
Glass 
Book_ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



f7/-^^-.V^M- 




A LANDMARK HISTORY 
OF NEW YORK 

ALSO THE ORIGIN OF STREET NAMES 
AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY 



BY 

ALBERT ULMANN 

MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



l-is- .Ft M- 






NEW YORK 

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY 

1901 



'\ 



THE LIBSAPV OF 

CON(?R£SS, 
Two Copies Received 

APR. 4 1901 

Copyright entry 

CLASS C^XXc. Nw. 

COPY B. 



COPYEIGHT, 1901, 

By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY. 



^ 



> 







A^ 



PREFACE 



In a city like New York, governed by a spirit of 
tearing down and rebnilding at short intervals of 
time, it is not surprising that landmarks have been 
destroyed and that old places have been in danger of 
losing their historical associations. Fortunately, of 
late, through the worthy efforts of certain patriotic 
societies, many of the more important historic sites 
have been determined and marked by suitably in- 
scribed tablets. These memorials serve the double 
purpose of awakening attention and of investing with 
an air of reality the events they perpetuate. They 
are, however, l)ut isolated mementos, bearing a sug- 
gestive phrase or two that have a meaning only to 
the student who has delved into the city's past. To 
make clear the full significance of these tablet- 
marked sites, to visit them in their chronological or- 
der, together with other landmarks worthy of consid- 
eration, and to weave around these relics and remind- 
ers of other days an interesting, graphic, and precise 
story, has been the object of this little work. 

In order to lend additional value to the Iwok and 
to emphasize how much the welfare and the progress 
of the city depend upon the efforts, the civic love, and 



vi A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

the civic pride of the citizen, special pains have 
been taken to introduce as much information as space 
would permit, of the characteristics and the careers 
of those individuals that have figured prominently 
and worthily in the development, from a little Dutch 
town, of our great metropolis. 

While the plan has been particularly to interest 
the young, it is believed that the careful reproduction 
of inscriptions, the exact location of historic sites, the 
explanation of the origin of street names, and the 
addition of a comprehensive bibliography and list of 
references, can not fail to prove of interest to the 
teacher and to the student of history. 

For their generous assistance in this undertaking, 
thanks are due to Mr. Hugh Hastings, State Histo- 
rian, at Albany; to Mr. Robert H. Kelby, Librarian 
of the jSTew York Historical Society; to Henry P. 
Johnston, Professor of History at the College of the 
City of Kew York ; to the librarians of the Mercantile, 
Astor, and Lenox Libraries; to Dr. Frank B. Kelley, 
of the City History Club; to Dr. Llenry S. Leipziger; 
to the Holland Society; and to the Society of the 
Sons of the Revolution. 

A. U. 

New York, January, 1901. 



LIST OF ILLUSTEATIONS 



PAGE 

Au Indian village on Manhattan Island . . Frontisjnece 

Stuyvesant's town house, erected in 1658 15 

First City Hall. Erected 1642. taken down in 1700 ... 17 

View of the Wall and Water Gate, at the foot of Wall Street . 18 

Broad Street, 1659 20 

Peter Stuyvesant 24 

Stuyvesant's country house 26 

Peter Stuyvesant's tombstone, St. Mark's church .... 28 

Milestone on Kingsbridge road 31 

Stuyvesant's pear tree 33 

Map of New York in 1642 35 

The earliest view taken of New Amsterdam 37 

Section of Jewish cemetery established during Stuyvesant's time. 39 

New York in 1664 43 

New York as it appeared about the year 1667 .... 45 

The city's seal .... 47 

New York in 1695 53 

Map of New York in 1728 66 

View of the fort about the year 1750 70 

New York Historical Society 76 

Site of Fort Amsterdam, directly south of Bowling Green . . 79 

Marinus Willett tablet, corner Broad and Beaver, Streets . . 94 

Tearing down the statue of George III on Bowling Green . . 99 

The old Post Office, originally the Middle Dutch church . . 101 
Harlem Heights battlefield looking north from One Hundred and 

Sixteenth Street, west of Broadway 116 

Statue of Nathan Hale in City Hall Park 119 

Tablet to coinmemorate the battle of Harlem Heights . . .121 

Library, Columbia University 122 

Point of Rocks, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Street and 

Convent Avenue 125 

The Grange, as it appeared in Hamilton's time .... 126 
The thirteen trees planted by Alexander Hamilton at One Hun- 
dred and Forty-third Street, cast of Amsterdam Avenue . 127 
2 VTI 



viii A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

PAGE 

The Jiimel Mansion 131 

Ehiuclander sugar house, prison during tlie Revolutionary War . 136 

The old prison ship Jersey 138 

Washington's house in Cherry Street 149 

Wall Street in 1789, showing Federal Hall 151 

Tammany Hall, 1830 ; present site of the New York Sun Building. 155 

View of old buildings on William Street in 1800 .... 159 

Statue of Alexander Hamilton in Central Park .... 161 

Collect Pond, 1800 164 

First boat propelled by steam 166 

Cooper Union and Peter Cooper's statue 171 

New York Free School No. 2, Chatham Street, 1808 . . .173 

Modern schoolhouse. West End Avenue and Eighty-second Street 174 

New Hall of the Board of Education 175 

Map of McGowan's Pass and Forts Fish and Clinton . . . 177 

Fortifications at McGowan's Pass, 1814 179 

Site of Fort Clinton in Central Park 181 

Blockhouse, One Hundred and Twenty-third Street . . .183 

Canal boat village, Coenties Slip 185 

View of St. Paul's church and the Broadway stages, 1831 . . 188 

Departure of the Seventh Regiment 199 

Grant's tomb, Riverside Drive 201 

Astor Place Riot, 1849 204 

Style of engine used in 1812 206 

Scene at a fire, 1800 207 

Theological Seminary, Twentieth Street and Ninth Avenue . 213 

A glimpse of Hudson Park, Leroy and Hudson Streets . . 216 

St. John's chapel, Varick Street 220 

Montgomery's tomb, St. Paul's church 224 

Trinity church 226 

Hamilton's tomb 227 

Trinity churchyard 228 

Bowling Green, 1830 234 

Old mansion in State Street 236 

Statue of Liberty 238 

Fraunces's Tavern 240 

Statue of Washington, Subtreasury Building 243 

Statue of Washington, Eighty-ninth Street and Riverside Drive. 245 

Washington Arch 248 

Columbus Column, Fifty-ninth Street and Eighth Avenue . . 250 

City Hall and Printing House Square 254 



A LAl^DMAEK HISTORY 
OF ^EW YORK 



CHAPTER I 

"Father, wliat's Ijowliiig Green?" asked Tom, 
turning to me one evening as we sat in the libraiy. 

" It's a small park jnst north of the Battery," I 
replied. 

" And why do they call it Bowling Green? " con- 
tinned Tom. 

" Becanse at one time people used to play at 
bowls on that very green. There's an interesting 
painting in the Hotel Imperial that shows a party 
at play. Some day we'll take a look at it." 

" Seems to me," said Tom, whose dark eyes had a 
Avay of lighting np when he was very mnch inter- 
ested in a subject, " that there must be a lot of curi- 
ous tilings downtown worth looking at." 

" Guess there must be," assented his brother 
George. " I read not long ago that there w^ere tab- 
lets in nnmy places that tell all about the old history 
of the city, and I have been planning to go down 
some day, only I do not know exactly how to go 
about it." 

" Are you really interested in the matter? " 
queried I, addressing the two lads. 

1 



2 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

" Yes," answered each with enthusiasm. 

" And I am, too," hastily added their sister 
Emily. 

" Well, then, I have a plan to submit to you. I 
think it the duty, and it ought to be the pride and 
pleasure, of every inhabitant of jSTew York, young 
and old, to know its history and its historic sites. I 
confess that my education in this field was sadly neg- 
lected, but I don't think I am too old to take it up 
now. I am glad that you introduced the subject, 
and that you want to learn something about it. 
Now, suppose we arrange some Saturday afternoon 
excursions, and have our friend. Professor Williams, 
go with us. lie has always taken an interest in you, 
and I feel very certain that he'll be glad to give us 
the benefit of his knowledge." 

"Hurrah! that's a fine idea!" exclaimed Tom, 
while (lieorge and Emily, who were of a quieter dis- 
position, but none the less in earnest, fairly beamed 
with pleasure. 

It may be well to say right here that Emily was 
eleven, Tom twelve, and George fourteen years old, 
and that I was three times as old as George. We 
were great friends in spite of this difi^erence in our 
ages, which, I imagine, was due largely to the fact 
that they looked upon me as a sort of older brother, 
who was ever ready to be their companion and their 
confidential adviser. 

Professor Williams, a great friend of the young 
people, and immensely admired by them, approved 
heartily of our plan. He named us the Walking 
Historians, and said he w^ould be ready to go with us 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



at any time. Accordingly, a few days later, on a 
fine afternoon about tlie middle of September, we 
entered a Ninth Avenue elevated train at Seventy- 
second Street and rode downtown. 

" By the way," said the professor after we were 
seated, " do you know that Hudson was very much 
disappointed with the re- 
sults of his expedition in 
this neighborhood? " 

"Keally?" said Emily 
in surprise. 

" Yes. You see when 
he sailed from Holland in 
the Half Moon he expect- 
ed to find a short route to 
India, the land of rich 
silks, precious stones, and 
other valuables, and when, 
on September 2, 1G09, he 
first beheld the mouth of 

the glorious river that now bears his name, he 
thought he had surely found the path to the East. 
So he sailed past ]\Ianhattan Island without paying 
much attention to it, and after ten days arrived in 
the neighborhood of the present city of Albany. 
Here the river became so shallow that he had to 
stop. He sent on a crew in a small boat, hoping 
against hope, but the men returned presently, re- 
porting that it was useless to go farther in that 
direction. Hudson then turned about with a heavy 
heart and drifted downstream, caring very little 
for the beautiful l)aid-;s that lav ou either side. The 




Henrv HucTson. 



4: A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

fact was that lie was interested in water, not in 
land. His employers, the East India Company, were 
as keenly disappointed as he was, and they were un- 
able to follow np his discoveries, as their charter did 
not permit them to visit countries bordering on the 
Atlantic for the purposes of trade." 

" Wasn't it strange," remarked George, " that so 
many years passed after Columbus's discovery be- 
fore any one visited these parts? " 

" As a matter of fact Hudson was not the first 
discoverer," answered the professor. " In 1524, 
John Verrazano, in the employ of the French, sailed 
into ^ew York Bay, w^rote a description of it, and 
handed it to Francis I, who was King of France at 
the time. But the French were then at war, and so 
no attention was paid to the matter. One year later 
Stephen Gomez, a Portuguese, came here and carried 
off a quantity of furs, and some Indians whom he 
sold into slavery. The S]ianiards listened to Gomez's 
story, but they, being interested in fountains of 
youth and rich mines, which they thought could be 
found only in the sunny South, scorned the northern 
wilderness and never visited it again." 

" H'm," grunted Tom, to indicate his contempt of 
Spanish ideas. 

" How was the city begun," asked George, who 
always wanted to get at the bottom of things, " if 
the East India Company did nothing? " 

" Private individuals took up the matter. The 
Dutch were shrewd merchants, and when it became 
known that there were great quantities of furs to be 
obtained in the new laud, some enterprising men 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 5 

fitted up a vessel and seut it across the ocean. The 
ship returned with a hirge cargo of furs, and the 
enterprise was regarded as a great success." 

" Twenty-third Street! " called out the guard. 

" Watch for Twenty-first Street," said the pro- 
fessor, " and notice the theological seminary. This 
neighborhood is known as ' Old Chelsea,' and well 
deserves a visit, which we shall pay later on." 

A glimpse was accorded us of the stately college 
buildings and the trindy kept lawns, but George 
brought us back to our subject by saying: 

" What sort of people were the Dutch? " 

" A fine nation," answered the professor. " They 
were brave, enterprising, inventive, loved liberty, 
and, what was ])articularly praiseworthy, allowed 
every one, no nuitter what his religious belief might 
be, to worship as he pleased. This was a rare privi- 
lege in those days, and no other country in the Old 
AVorld was as free as Holland. You can understand 
their character fully when I tell you that the Dutch 
have often been called the Yankees of Europe." 

" Why was the island called .Manhattan? " asked 
George. 

" It was the name of the Indian tribe that lived 
here. The name means, literally speaking, the 
' Place of the Whirlpool,' and refers to the tum- 
bling, rushing, boiling waters of IIcU Gate, that both 
fascinated and puzzled the natives." 

" Did tliey fight the Dutch? " inquired Tom, who 
loved adventure of all kinds. 

" Yes, there were some bloody wars, but the 
Dutch were as much to blame f(U' this as the Indians. 



Q A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

It is only fair to say that the red men met the whites 
in a friendly spirit. They greeted Hudson with 
every sign of welcome and brought him food, for 
which he gave them axes, knives, shoes, and stock- 
ings. jSTot knowing the purj^oses of these articles, 
they surprised Hudson by hanging the axes and shoes 
around their necks as ornaments, and used the stock- 
ings as tobacco pouches. It was only when the 
whites injured them that the Indians turned against 
the Dutch. The Indians Avcre exceedingly revenge- 
ful — revenge was a part of their religion — and they 
never rested until they had shed blood to atone for 
that of any relative that had been killed." 

"Christopher Street! " shouted the guard. 

" We are now in old Greenwich village," said the 
professor. 

" Where is it? " asked Tom in his impulsive way, 
looking out of the window, as if he expected to see 
some of the ancient farmhouses. 

" The village has long ago disappeared," ex- 
plained the professor; '' in fact, excepting the neigh- 
borhood of the Battery, this is probably the oldest 
settlement of white men on the island of Xew York. 
Originally, it was an Indian village called Sappolrnu- 
can, and Indian huts stood near the shore where you 
can see the red funnels of that French steamer. A 
little stream, called Manetta Creek, emptied into the 
river near by, and though it can no longer be seen, 
it still flows through its ancient channel under- 
ground. It rises somewhere east of Fifth Avenue 
near Twentieth Street, touches Union Square, and 
then turns westward. Builders putting up new build- 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 7 

iiigs discover, to their cost, that the old stream is still 
there, as it means expensive pile driving. I shall tell 
you more of Greenwich village at the proper time; 
meanAvhile we are traveling along the old Green- 
wich road, which was one of the principal and most 
popular roads of colonial New York." 

" IIow is it that the streets in these parts are so 
mixed up?" asked George. 

" We shall get to that later," responded the pro- 
fessor. " It will be necessary, in order to avoid con- 
fusion, to take one period at a time. First, w^e shall 
inspect the old Dutch town, ])assing over a number 
of English landmarks that belong to a later period. 
In this way we shall follow the historical order of 
events, even if we have to pay a second visit to some 
of the localities. I suppose you have noticed that 
Manhattan Island is like a long stocking, having its 
toes at the Battery and its heel at the eastern ter- 
minus of Grand Street. It was at the toe end that 
the earliest settlement was located." 

"Rector Street! " called out the guard. 

" Ah, here w^e are in the old Dutch town at last," 
said the professor, rising and leading the way out. 

As we passed up Rector Street toward Broadway, 
Tom, who had been casting disapproving glances 
around him, remarked: "Why did the Dutch have 
such narroW' streets? " 

" They never thought that their little lanes would 
some day become the thoroughfares of a great me- 
tropolis. In their time such a street as this was noth- 
ing more than a country pathway, and the old Dutch 
burghers found it wide enough. The wonder is that, 



8 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

as the eitj grew, no attempt was ever made to im- 
prove tlie old paths." 

" Hello/' said Tom suddciilv, " here's a grave- 
yard. I never knew they buried people down- 
town." 

" That's Trinity," said the professor. " The 
churchyard is over two hundred years old, but it be- 
longs to the English period, and so we shall pass it 
for the present." 

" I Avonder what the Dutch would say if they 
were to come back now and see these high houses," 
remarked George as he raised his eyes to the top of 
the American Surety building, three hundred and 
six feet above the ground and twenty-two feet above 
the top of Trinity steeple. 

No one attempted to solve this problem, and so 
we turned into Broadway, walking dow^n the west 
side. 

" I don't see," remarked Tom, " why they ever 
called this Broachv ay." 

" Others have made the same comment," said the 
professor. " At first it was nothing more than an 
Indian trail, running along the ridge of a hill that 
formed the backbone of the island. The original 
settlers did not consider it a choice locality, pre- 
ferring Pearl and Broad Streets, as we shall pres- 
ently learn. In fact, for some years the houses, 
especially on the cast side, were little better than 
hovels, consisting of a single room with a fireplace. 
But here we have Tablet IS^o 1." 

Pointing to a bronze plate near the downtOAvn 
edge of Aldrich Court, 41 Broadway, the professor 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 9 

asked George to read the legend, George tliere- 
upon read the inscription, which was as follows: 



THIS TABLET MARKS THE SITE OF THE 

FIRST HABITATIONS OF WHITE MEN 

ON THE ISLAND OF MANHATTAN. 

ADRIAN BLOCK 

COMMANDER OF THE TIGER 

ERECTED HERE FOUR HOUSES OR HUTS 

NOVEMBER 1613. 

HE BUILT THE RESTLESS THE FIRST VESSEL 

MADE BY EUROPEANS IN THIS COUNTRY. 

THE RESTLESS WAS LAUNCHED 

IN THE SPRING OF 1614. 

THIS TABLET IS PLACED HERE BY 

THE HOLLAND SOCIETY OF NEW Y'ORK 

SEPTEMBER 1890. 



"What's the Holland Society? " qneried Tom. 

" It is an association," answered the professor, 
" of descendants of those who can trace their ances- 
try back, throngh the male line, to the colonists from 
Holland prior to 1075. That little text," continued 
the professor, referring to the tablet, " furnishes us 
with a good starting point, and will give ns a clew 
to the manner in which the first attempt at anything 
like a settlement was made. I have already told 
you that the first vessel to reach jManhattan after 
the Half Moon, w^as fitted up by private individuals. 
Its voyage proving a success, other merchants fol- 
lowed the example of the pioneers, and in this way 
the fur trade was fairly established. One of the 
pioneers in this traffic was Adrian Block, whose 



10 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

name ajjpears there on the tablet. His vessel, the 
Tiger, took fire jnst as he was about to sail for home. 
Nothing daunted, he set about building a new ship, 
aided bj the Indians, who helped him drag trees to 
the shore, and supplied him with food. AYhile en- 
gaged in constructing the first boat ever launched 
in the waters of Manhattan, he erected the houses 
or huts to which reference is made. Block was 
thus the first house as well as boat builder in this 
vicinity." 

" Was the Kestless a good boat? " asked George. 

" Oh, yes. Block sailed it up through the East 
River into the Sound and discovered Block Island, 
which still bears his name." 

" Why is it called the East Biver? " queried 
Tom. 

" Because," said the professor, " the current 
from the heel of the stocking to the toe — that is, the 
section first settled by the Dutch — flows east and 
west. North River was so called to distinguish it 
from the South or Delaware River, where the Dutch 
had also planted a colony. Now, let us go down to 
Bowding Green." 

A short walk brought us to this miniature 
park. 

" Let us pass right through," said our guide, " ig- 
nore the statue, and examine yonder tablet on the 
Cunard Company's building." * 



* This and the neighboring buildings have recently been re- 
moved to make room for the new Customhouse, to which, no 
doubt, the tablet will be afltixed. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK H 

"We crossed the street, mounted the stoop, and 
George read the inscription which is here copied: 



THE SITE OF FORT AMSTERDAM 

BUILT IN 1026. 

WITUIN THE FORTIFICATIONS 

WAS ERECTED THE FIRST 

SUBSTANTIAL CHURCH EDIFICE 

ON THE ISLAND OF MANHATTAN, 

IN 1787 THE FORT 

WAS DEMOLISHED 

AND THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE 

BUILT UPON THIS SITE. 

THIS TABLET IS PLACED HERE BY 

THE HOLLAND SOCIETY 

OF NEW YORK. 

SEPTEMBER, 1890. 



'' Yon will notice that this date is thirteen years 
later than that of Tablet iSTo. 1. Some very impor- 
tant events took place dnrine; this period. At first 
no attempt was made to establish a colony — that is, 
to have people come over and make their homes here, 
but soon the English began to lay claim to the terri- 
tory, asserting that, owing to the discoveries of 
Cabot, they had a right to the whole coast. The 
Dutch quickly saw that to hold their possessions they 
would have to found a permanent settlement on 
Manhattan Island, whereui)on, in 1G24, a number of 
families crossed the ocean, followed shortly after by 
a director general, whose name you no doubt re- 
member, George." 

" I think it was Minuit." 



12 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

" Quite right; Peter Minuit. He began his ad- 
ministration by jDurchasing the island. The Indian 
chiefs met him, probably in this neighborhood, nnder 
some spreading trees, and concluded the bargain. 
As they looked with contempt on European money, 
considering it worth nothing, they accepted a 
quantity of beads and other showy triHes, amount- 
ing to twenty-four dollars. For this they gave up 
all title to Manhattan Island, containing some 
twenty-two thousand acres. This w^as the first real 
estate transaction in the history of New York. 
Have you any idea what its real estate is worth 
to-day? " 

As none of us could answer this question, the 
professor informed us that the latest valuation fixed 
by the tax commissioners was over two thousand 
three hundred millions of dollars. 

" Having now become lawful owners of the land, 
the settlers made plans to provide for their personal 
safety. A fort was at once staked out, consisting of 
a blockhouse surrounded by cedar palisades and 
called Fort Amsterdam. This rude structure did not 
last long, and a few years later a larger fort was 
erected, three hundred feet in length by two hundred 
and fifty in breadth, consisting of stone and earth. 
One side of it covered the ground where these six 
steamship buildings now stand. Inside, three wind- 
mills, a guardhouse and barracks, a stone church, 
and a house for the director were set up. Above 
them all waved the Dutch flag." 

" What was it like? " asked Emily. 

" Red, white, and blue, in horizontal stripes, thus 



A LANDMARK PIISTORY OF NEW YORK 13 

curiously supplying Manhattan with a red, white, 
and blue ensign two hundred and fifty years ago. 

" The settlement," continued the professor, 
" comprising about thirty simple huts, was strung 
along the shore of the East River, close to the fort. 
Every settler had his own house, kept his cows, 
tilled his land, or traded w^ith the natives — no one 
was idle. Opposite the fort a space was kept open, 
and there it is to-day," added our guide, pointing to 
the Bowling Green through which we had just 
passed. " It was the heart of the old Dutch town. 
There the children played, there the youths and 
maidens danced around the May pole, there the sol- 
diers paraded, and on Sundays the country wagons 
were gathered while the people were at church. 
There, too, after a bloody war with the Indians, a 
great assembly of chiefs took place, the pipe of peace 
was smoked, and the tomahawk buried as a sign of 
peace. Later on it w^as used as a market place and 
for an annual cattle show. Still later, during the 
English period, it was the scene of many stirring- 
events of which we shall learn at the proper time." 

" Let's go over again and look at it," suggested 
Tom. 

'' Xot now," said the professor; " I want to take 
you next to the oldest street of the old city." 

Following our guide, we turned into State Street 
and walked southward, having on our right hand 
Battery Park. 

" Looks just like a part of Central Park," re- 
marked Tom, " only the Avater, and the ships, and the 
Statue of Liberty are more interesting." 



14 A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 

" All but the little corner right opposite us," said 
the professor, " was originally under water. A num- 
ber of rocks jutted out here and there, and not until 
the city was about seventy-five years old were they 
covered over and a battery of guns put in place. But 
here we are at Pearl Street." 

"Is Pearl Street the oldest street in the city?" 
asked Emily. 

"Yes," answered the professor; "it is the oldest 
and twists about more than any other." 

" Why was it called Pearl Street? " queried 
Tom. 

" Because of the quantity of pearly shells found 
there. The city, you know, was considerably nar- 
rower in the old days, Pearl Street being right at 
the water front." 

" And why is it so twisted? " asked George. 

" Perhaps it wound round the foot of a hill. 
This will explain the existence of other crooked 
streets. The hills are gone, but to this day we keep 
walking around them. Then, too, it must be remem- 
bered that the original town grew up in a haphazard 
sort of a way. People placed their houses where 
they pleased at first, and so when it came to the lay- 
ing out of roads the latter were more likely to be 
crooked than straight. You must try to imagine," 
continued the professor, as we turned the corner 
into Pearl Street, " that instead of those buildings 
opposite, you have the line of the shore before you, 
and here, on this side, a straggling row of quaint 
Dutch houses with their gable ends toward the road, 
topped with crowstep roofs." 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



15 



"Why were the roofs made that way? " 

" To enable the chimney sweeps to climb up 
easily and reach the chimneys from the outside." 

A short walk brought us to AVhitehall Street. 

'" In the old days," said the professor, pointing 
toward the river, " you could have seen there a white 




Stuyvesant's town house, erected iu 1G5S. Afterward called the 
White Hall. From an old print in Valentine's Manual for 1862. 

residence of no mean a])pearance, surrounded by a 
garden and stately trees. This was Stuyvesant's 
official town house, known as the ' White Hall ' 
which has left its name to the street it used to 
adorn." 

3 



16 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

" Here's another tablet," said Tom, looking up 
at No. 73 Pearl Street. 

George being now recognized as the official 
reader, at once began to decipher the inscription, but 
not without difficulty, as it is high up. 



THE SITE OF THE 
FIRST DUTCH HOUSE OF ENTERTAINMENT 

ON THE ISLAND OF MANHATTAN, 

LATER THE SITE OF THE OLD " STADT HUYS "' 

OR CITY HALL. 

THIS TABLET IS PLACED HERE BY 

THE HOLLAND SOCIETY OF NEW YORK. 

SEPTEMBER 1890. 



" This," said the pi-ofessor, '' is one of the most 
interesting sites of ISTew Amsterdam. As the fort 
was the center of military life this was the center 
of all the great political discussions. Originally, as 
you see, it w^as a tavern to entertain traders and 
visitors who stopped on their way from ISTew Eng- 
land to Virginia. Being five stories high it could 
be seen from the decks of ships a long distance 
off. Later on it was turned into the City Hall 
and Stuyvesant and his council took possession, 
the council listening and Stuyvesant laying down 
the law. He regulated everything, from fixing the 
taxes to the hour when people ought to go to bed. 
Here, in 1653, the official announcement was 
made that converted the settlement into a city 
with a court of burgomasters and schepens, and 
an officer called a sellout, wdio was a mayor, a 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



17 



sheriff, a district attorney, and a chief of police all 
in one." 

" He must have been the most important man 
in the town," remarked Tom. 

" Oh, no," answered the professor, " Stuyvesant 
was still supreme. It was intended, you must know, 
that all these officers should be elected, but Stuy- 










"'I''!^J 



First City Hall. Erected 1642, taken down in 1700. From an old 
print in Valentine's ^Manual for 1852. 

vesant thought this altooether too much responsi- 
bility to rest on the jx'ople. So he took the bur- 
den on his own shoulders and appointed whom he 
pleased." 

Continuing' along Pearl Street we soon reached 
Wall Street. ' 

" We have now practically walked around the old 




18 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



town," remarked the professor, " as from tliis point 
over to the ISTorth River there was a wooden wall. 





View of tlie Wall and Water Gate, at the foot of Wall Street. 
From an old print in Valentine's Maunal for 1862. 

Right here there was a gate, called the Water Gate; 
at Broadway there was another, called the Land 
Gate. A little battery extended into the river 
near this spot, gnarded by a Dntch soldier. 

" Why did they have a wall ^ " asked George. 

"In 1653 news came of a threatened invasion 
of New Englanders. They were considered a slip- 
pery and pushing people, and regarded with a mixture 
of contempt and fear. Great excitement followed. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 19 

the fort was repaired, a night watch established, and 
a resolution passed to build a wall. The New Eng- 
landers never came, but the wall was erected and 
it did more harm than good, as for nearly half a 
century it kept the town from growing beyond this 
unnecessary barrier. 

" Let us now go back," suggested the professor, 
" and take a look at Stone Street, which has an inter- 
esting history." 

" Hello, there isn't room even for the lamp 
posts," remarked Tom, pointing to a lamp bracketed 
to the side of a building. 

" This was the first street to be paved," said the 
professor, " and it owed this honor to the energy of a 
woman. Among the earliest colonists were the Van 
Cortlandts. They lived in this road, ITerr Van 
Cortlandt having a brewery near l)y. The wife, like 
all true Hollanders, abhorred dust and dirt, and com- 
j)lained over and over again that she could not keep 
her house clean because of the condition of the road. 
She protested so persistently that at length the au- 
thorities, to quiet her, put down a rough stone pave- 
ment. This was regarded as a wonderful piece of 
work, and people came from all parts to look at it, 
calling it, in joke, the stoiie street, which name has 
ever since clung to it." 

The professor had just finished his story, wh(>n 
Tom, using his favorite expression, exclaimed, 
" Hello, here is a real big, broad street once more." 

" Quite right," said the professor, " it is Broad 
Street. In the old days it was the most picturesque 
and trulv Dutch thoroughfare of the town. The 



20 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



water entered here from the river and formed a ditch 
which the burghers turned into a water street with 
bridges and a walk along the banks. This reminded 
them of similar streets in their beloved Amsterdam, 
and it became their favorite promenade. Here they 
built some of their best houses, with wide stoops and 
benches, where the whole family could sit during the 




Broad Street, 1659. From an old print in Valentine's Manual for 1862. 

pleasant summer evenings, the father smoking his 
long ]n\)Q, the mother knitting, as long as the light 
would ])ormit, and the children romping about. The 
neighbor or friend who happened to come along was 
invited to sit down and discuss some topic of the day, 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 21 

such as Stuyvesant's quarrels with the burgomasters, 
or the likelihood of trouble with the Indians. 

" Just below us," continued the professor, " is 
Bridge Street, so called because a bridge crossed the 
creek at that point; near it is Moore Street, where 
the first dock was located and ships were moored, 
while just above us is Beaver Street. Beavers, you 
know, played an important part in the traffic of the 
colony, their skins being eagerly sought. It is said, 
by some, that Beaver Street was the original fur 
center of the town ; hence its name. But now let us 
get back to Broadway, and I'll point out to you the 
statues of Hudson and Stuyvesant." 

We walked up Beaver Street to Broadway, 
crossed to the west side, and going northward a short 
distance came in sight of the new Exchange Court 
building on the corner of Exchange Place. 

''Kotice the figures over the southern portico," 
said the professor. " The first is that of Hudson — 
simple in outline but very jncturesque in its general 
effect. In the case of Stuyvesant, observe how clev- 
erly the wooden leg has been managed. The long 
cloak forms an attractive l)ackgroiind, while the cane, 
leaning outward and sni)])<)vting the strong arm, 
forms an angle that carries the eye away from the in- 
artistic wooden peg. Fine statues, are they not? " 

AVe all assented, took a last look at the two noble 
bronze figures, and, heartily thanking our guide, 
made our way uptown, feeling that we had spent a 
profitable and memorable afternoon. 



CHAPTER 11 

" I TirixK," said the prolessor the next time we 
met, " that it will be well to have a talk before we 
take our second walk, so as to learn a little more of 
the founders of New York. 

'' The Dutch never did things by halves. So, 
having made up their minds to establish a colony, 
they went about it vigorously, fully determined to 
make it a success. 

'' Of course, in order to manage the people who 
now lived on ^Manhattan Island, some sort of gov- 
ernment had to be provided. Accordingly, a direc- 
tor-general was appointed to take charge, and a 
council of five wise men was selected to give him ad- 
vice. The first director, as you know, was Peter 
Minuit, who ruled from l(i26 to 1032. Tie seems to 
have been a good num, but after a tinu^ he was ac- 
cused of favoring the patroons and was recalled." 

" Who were the patroons? " asked Tom. 

" Owners of great estates outside of ]\ranhattan 
Island. Land was granted to the patroons in order 
to encourage farming, as nearly everybody wanted 
to go into fur trading. The patroons agreed to 
transport fifty settlers at their ovm expense, to pro- 
vide each with a farm and cattle, and to employ a 
23 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 23 

schoolmaster and a minister. In retnrn each settler 
was bound to his patroon for ten years. Thus the 
latter was not only a rich but a powerful individual. 
The first of the patroons was Killian Van Rensse- 
laer, to whom was granted a tract of seven hundred 
thousand acres, near the site of our present city of 
Albany. 

" The second director was Wouter Van Twiller, 
a young man who turned out to be a very poor offi- 
cial. He was stout, stupid, and stubborn, but was 
clever enough to look out for his own interests. In 
fact, if he had not been called home he would, in all 
likelihood, have seized the whole island. But his 
blunders in public matters were so ridiculous that 
the people quickly lost all respect for him, and they 
were glad to see him leave the colony. He ruled 
from 1632 to 1637. 

" The West India Company, now thinking it 
necessary to send a strong, energetic director, se- 
lected William Kieft, who soon showed that he was 
an out-and-out autocrat, and, unfortunately, not a 
wise one. He was of a quarrelsome disposition, and 
plunged the colony into a war with the Indians, in 
the course of which the little settlement was almost 
entirely destroyed. Luckily, David De Yries, a 
worthy patroon, had won the confidence of the na- 
tives, and through his efforts peace was restored. 
Shortly after, Kieft was ordered home. He sailed 
in August, 1647, but never reached his native land, 
the vessel going down in a storm off the coast of 
Wales. 

" The fourth and last director, Peter Stuyvesant, 




Peter Stiiyvesaiit. From an oil painting in the possession of the 
New York Historical Society. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 25 

sometimes called Peter the Stiff-necked, now ap- 
peared on the scene. He governed for seventeen 
years, from 1647 to 1664, and was easily the most 
interesting- and picturesque of the Dutch rulers. A 
wooden leg supplied the place of one of his limbs, 
which he lost while fighting for his country in south- 
ern seas. Like Kieft he was an autocrat, but he was 
wise and earnest, and honestly sought to promote the 
welfare of the colony. When he arrived it was al- 
most in a state of ruin, the })opulation having 
dwindled from three thousand to one thousand, 
owing to the Indian wars, and the people were badly 
discouraged. Stuyvesant issued a number of strict 
laws, many of which we would not accept nowadays, 
but at the time they were necessary. By steadily 
enforcing them he introduced order, cleanliness, and 
improvements of all kinds, and presently ISTew Am- 
sterdam began to look something like the thrifty 
towns of Old Holland. 

" Stuyvesant, as you know, had a town house 
at the foot of Whitehall Street; he also had a coun- 
try residence in the neighborhood of Fourteenth 
Street. The place was known as the Great Bou- 
werie, or farm, and covered many acres of ground, 
extending from Fourth Avenue over to the East 
River. 

" Quick of temper was Stuyvesant and quarrel- 
some, aud often he brought his wooden leg down on 
the floor with an angry thump when people disagreed 
with him. But he was full of energy, never shirked 
what he considered his duty, and, soldierlike, was at 
the front whenever there was dano-cr. So when, in 



26 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



1664, Captain Nicolls, in the name of the Duke of 
York, sailed up the bay at the head of a fleet of Eng- 
lish war vessels, Stuyvesant stood at an angle of the 
fort, next to a gunner, ready to die in the defense of 
the town. NicoUs, knowing that he could easily cap- 
ture the almost defenseless island, sent a haughty 







stii\\(^iiit s (ouiiiiN lioii^t 1 mill III (lid punt 

message demanding surrender. ' I had rather be 
carried a corpse to my grave than to surrender the 
city,' replied Stuyvesant. Such was his courageous 
nature, but to have opposed the guns of the English 
would not only have meant terrilde destruction of 
property, but the slaughter of many innocent women 
and children. Thus the dominie and the leading- 
burghers argued with the determined fighter, and at 



A LAND:MARK history of new YORK 27 

last lie gave in, his proud spirit broken at the idea 
of hoisting the white flag. With bent head he 
stnniped out of the fort at the head of his soldiers, 
never more to govern or to regulate the laws. 

" Stuyvesant now retired to his Bouwerie. His 
orchards and gardens, kept in perfect order by a num- 
ber of negro slaves, were the finest on Manhattan 
Island. Shortly after the surrender, the authorities 
in Holland, wishing to throw the blame of losing the 
city on somebody, summoned their faithful servant 
before them and calmly charged him with cowardice. 
Of course Stuyvesant easily proved that this was a 
mean and baseless accusation, and he did not hesitate 
to say that had the company sent him a sufficient 
number of soldiers and weapons he might have had 
some chance of defending the town. After such 
treatment he had no wish to remain in Holland, and 
as soon as possible he came back to his beloved Bou- 
werie, where peacefully he passed his days, often in- 
viting the English governor to dine with him. At 
the ripe old age of eighty, in the year 1GT2, he died, 
and was buried in the family vault witliin the walls 
of a church that he had built at his own ex])ense 
near his country seat. The church is now gone, and 
in its place, at the corner of Tenth Street and Second 
Avenue, stands St. Mark's. This, as you will, no 
doubt, be interested to know, is the oldest church site 
in Xcw York now occupied by a house of worsliii)." 

'' Older than 'J'rinity ^ " asked (icorg(\ 

" Yes, the latter was not founded until thirty 
years after Stuyvesant built liis church." 

" AYlien Stuyvesant was laid to rest, a tablet was 




Peter Stuyvesant's tombstone, St. Mark's church. 
Photographed 1900. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 29 

placed above his grave. This has been preserved, 
and has been affixed to the eastern wall of St. Mark's. 
The inscription," added the professor, referring to 
his niemorandiun book, '' is as follows: 



IN THIS VAULT LIES BURIED 

PETKUS STUYVESANT. 

LATE CAPTAIN GENERAL AND GOVERNOR IN CHIEF OP AMSTERDAM 

IN NEW NETHERLAND NOW CALLED NEW YORK, 

AND THE DUTCH WEST INDIA ISLANDS, DIED IN A. D. 1G7M, 

AGED 80 YEARS. 



" The date 16T|- indicates that he died be- 
tween the first of January and the 25th of March, 
1672." 

" Is Bouwerie the same as the Bowerv? " asked 
George. 

" Yes," answered the professor. "• Originally it 
was called Bowery Lane. AVhile Stuyvesant was 
director an Indian outbreak took place, and the peo- 
ple living beyond the city wall, being in great dan- 
ger, were at once ordered either to move into the 
town or to collect in villages for common protection. 
Thus a village was formed in the neighborhood of 
Stuyvesant farm. A country path connected this 
hamlet with the city, and later on it was made into 
a carriage road and extended to Harlem. Its start- 
ing point was about where the post office now stands, 
whence it followed Park Row and the Bowery up to 
Fifteenth Street, where it again met Broadway. 
Along this route the first postman, armed with pis- 
tols, made his way on horseback once a month to 



30 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

Boston. It was a risky trip in those days, as there 
was clanger from Indians and wild beasts. Bowery 
Lane gradually developed into one of the most im- 
portant and popular highways of Manhattan Island. 
It became a favorite drive for the fashionable peojjle 
at all times of the year, being especially lively in 
winter, when merry sleigh bells made the crisp air 
resound with lively sounds of merriment. But now 
its old-time glory is gone, and only a few relics remain 
to remind us of its past history. Opposite Rivington 
Street is a milestone, which, if free from posters, 
shows the inscription: 



I 

MILE 

TO 

CITY HALL. 



" A famous inn stood here in the old days, and it 
was a custom to accompany a friend starting on the 
long journey to Boston, as far as this tavern, drink 
a parting glass of wine with him, and wish him God- 
speed." 

*' Are there any other old milestones?" asked 
George. 

" Yes; the two-mile stone is in Third Avenue 
near Sixteenth Street, the four-mile near Fifty- 
seventh Street, the five-mile near Seventy-seventh 
Street, the nine-mile at One Hundred and Fifty-sec- 
ond Street and Amsterdam Avenue, and the twelve- 
mile on the Kingsbridge road, near Inwood. 

" The Governor's room in the Citv Hall contains 



A LANDMARK PIISTORY OB^ NEW YORK 



31 



an odd and interesting memento of the Boweiy. It 
is a branch of a pear tree that was originally planted 
in Stuyvesant's orchard. Long after the orchard 
had been covered by modern honses, this tree, en- 
circled by an iron railing, stood at the corner of 




Milestone on Kingsbridge road. 

Thirteenth Street and Third Avenne. Many a time 
hav(^ I seen it there, covered with blossoms, jnst 
as it nsed to appear, no donbt, when Stnyvesant 
looked npon it. One day, in 18G7, fnlly two linn- 
dred years after it was planted, a careless trnekman 
drove his heavy wagon against it and crushed it to 
the groimd, thns ruthlessly ending its existence as 
a landmark. At the corner where it stood so long, 
4 



32 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 



a bronze plate has been placed bearing the follow- 
ing inscription : 



ON THIS CORNER GREW 
PETRUS STUYVESANT'S PEAR TREE. 

RECALLED TO HOLLAND IN 1664, 

ON HIS RETURN 

HE BROUGHT THE PEAR TREE 

AND PLANTED IT 

AS HIS MEMORIAL, 

" BY WHICH," SAID HE, " MY NAME 

MAY BE REMEMBERED." 

THE PEAR TREE FLOURISHED 

AND BORE FRUIT FOR OVER 

TWO HUNDRED YEARS. 

THIS TABLET IS PLACED HERE BY 

THE HOLLAND SOCIETY 

OF NEW YORK 

SEPTEMBER 1890. 



" Yon said last week yon wonld tell ns something 
abont the Indians," said Tom, wdio had jnst finished 
reading The Last of the Mohicans, bj Cooper. 

" Yes," answered the professor, " and this is prob- 
ably as good a time as any to keep my promise. 

" When the natives first saw Hndson's boat in the 
distance they were greatly pnzzled. They thonght 
it was a monster canoe with wings whiter than those 
of a swan, and much wider than those of many eagles. 
Some imagined it was the Great Spirit coming to 
visit them from the land of the Rising Sun, and they 
prepared to give him a proper reception. Presently 
they ventured out in their little birch canoes, offered 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



33 



tobacco and food, and showed bj signs that they were 
glad to see the palefaced strangers. 

" The Europeans soon discovered the skill with 
which the Indians handled their bows and arrows. 




Stuyvesaiit' s pear tree, formerly at the corjier of Tliirtoeiith Street 
aud Tliird Avenue. From Mary L. Booth's History of tlie City 
of New York. 

and greatly admired the manner in which they eonld 
hit the swiftest animals. Oftentimes the visitors 
arranged shooting contests among the boys. A small 



34 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

coin placed at a distance of fifty feet the young red- 
skins would generally hit five times out of ten. 

" As far as we can judge, the Europeans might 
have lived at peace with the Indians, but the former 
soon aroused angry feelings in the breasts of the 
natives. One day an Indian and his nephew came 
down to^^'ard the town to sell some furs. In the 
vicinity of Collect Pond, a body of water near the 
site of the old Tombs prison (Center and Franklin 
Streets), three of llinuit's farm servants attacked 
the pair, robbed them of their furs, and killed the 
older man. The younger, a mere boy, escaped, and, 
according to the custom of his people, vowed to 
avenge the death of his uncle. Twenty years later, 
during the time of Kieft, he deliberately set out one 
afternoon to do what he considered his religious 
duty. He visited the house of a harmless old wheel- 
wright who lived some distance out of town and pre- 
tended that he wanted to trade some beaver skins 
for blankets. Wliile the old man was bending over 
his box, the Indian struck him a cowardly blow on 
the head with his axe and killed him. This act led 
to a terrible war, during which men, women, and 
children were murdered, their houses burned, and 
their farms laid waste. The horrors of tliis time are 
too awful to repeat, for the Indians, when enraged, 
inflict the most cruel tortures on their unfortunate 
victims.'' 

Emily shuddered, while the boys were strangely 
silent. 

" Another serious outbreak occurred in Stuy- 
vesant's time," continued the professor. " Xear the 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 



35 



present site of Trinity clmreli, one Van Dyck had a 
fine orchard of peach trees. This fruit was new to 
the Indians, and not being able to resist the tempta- 




Map ot Istw \oik in 104:^, drawn " fnun the l)cst data in his possi's- 
siou " by D. T. Valentino, compiler of the eity's Manuals. 

tion of tasting it, they often slipped into the orchard 
at night and stole a few peaches. This practice so 
vexed Mrs. Van Dyck that she made her husband 
load his gun and watch for intruders. lie had not 
long to wait. All too soon a slim form crept up to 
one of the trees and began shaking a limb. Van 



36 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

Dyck, without uttering a word of warning, raised his 
piece, aimed and fired. The form dropped and 
never stirred again. When Van Dyek rushed up to 
see the result of his shot, he found at his feet the 
lifeless form of a young Indian girl. Dearly the 
colony had to pay for this hasty action. Over one 
hundred settlers were killed, one hundred and fifty 
taken prisoners, and eighty thousand dollars' worth 
of property destroyed." 

" That was an awful price to give for a few 
peaches," said George impressively. 

" Yes, indeed," answered the professor. " Many 
fond mothers and innocent babies were included in 
that payment of blood." 

" And it all happened right here in New York? " 
said Emily, in an incredulous tone. 

'' Here, and in the immediate neighborhood. 
But let us change the subject to one of peace. I 
mentioned a few minutes ago, as you know, a pond 
where the Tombs used to be. This was a beautiful 
spot originally. AYooded hills surrounded a placid 
body of water that was thought to be without bot- 
tom. Near it was a point of land which, when first 
seen by the Dutch, was covered with shells, left there 
by the Indians, who used them foi- making wampum, 
as they designated their money. The Dutch called it 
Kloch, meaning shell point, which gradually was 
changed to Collect, and, finally, applied to the little 
lake itself. In the old days there was a tradition 
that at midnight, at certain periods, the spirit of an 
Indian chief crossed the pond, the splash of his pad- 
dle being easily heard. Of course, this was an idle 




\MliA.AMikMmiE}Ml 



38 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

tale, but many a cliild believed it firmly. Collect 
Pond remained a feature of tlie island for many 
years, and I shall have occasion to mention it again." 

"How did the Indians make wampum?" asked 
George. 

" The women were the money-makers. With 
great patience they dug out the blue parts of clam 
shells, broke them into small pieces, polished them, 
drilled them, and then strung them on grass or hemp. 
These strings were then braided into l)elts and used 
as we use dollar bills. Sometimes white shells were 
employed, but these were not considered as valuable 
as the blue. The Manahatas, living near the sea, 
had, so to speak, an unlimited money supply, and be- 
came one of the wealthiest tribes, 

" A collection of Indian relics found in this 
neighborhood can be seen in the Museum of I*^atural 
History, at Seventy-seventh Street, west of Central 
Park. Go there the first opportunity you have, and 
you will find an interesting exhibit. 

" But let us return to the little Dutch town of 
New Amsterdam. It nestled below Wall Street, 
and, although it lacked many conveniences we enjoy 
to-day, it was a merry place in its way. Stoves, car- 
pets, and rocking chairs were unknown, but house- 
warmings were arranged without them, and were 
hugely enjoyed. Not a fork was to be seen in the 
entire settlement, but the people managed very well 
with spoons and knives. Watches and clocks were 
rarities, but the hourglass kept track of time in their 
stead. A few silver watches were introduced after 
a while, but they presently got out of order, and, as 



m4 § 




40 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

there were no watcli repairers in the town, these 
timepieces were soon rendered useless. Excepting 
the director's coach, there was no conveyance in ISTew 
Amsterdam. People traveled on horseback, and, as 
there were no sidesaddles in those days, cushions 
were used for the ladies, who rode behind the gentle- 
men and held on to them for support." 

" Must have been a funny sight," said Tom, 
smiling. 

" The Dutch were very hospitable," continued 
the professor; "strangers were always welcome and 
were well entertained. Quilting bees, apple bees, 
and husking bees were popular, and dancing was a fa- 
vorite amusement. Every autumn there was a Ker- 
mess that lasted six weeks, during which time cattle 
were exhibited, farm tools were sold, and all sorts 
of needlework and fabrics displayed, while athletic 
sports, dances, and other amusements served to enter- 
tain the young people. You may be surprised to 
learn that golf was one of the favorite pastimes, and 
it is recorded that people were arrested for playing 
it in the streets. 

" There were several great festivals : Christmas, 
New Year's day, Paas or Passover, and Santa Claus, 
or Christ-Kinkle day. 

" Christmas day was observed by wishing every- 
body ' A Merry Christmas,' after which the young- 
men went out to one of the frozen swamps beyond 
the town to shoot at turkeys. 

" On ISTew Year's day everybody visited every- 
body else. Every one, including the stranger with- 
in the gates, was welcome, and cake and wine were 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 41 

freely offered. This hospitable custom was kept up 
in Ne^v York until a few years ago. 

" On Paas, or Easter Monday, the children 
cracked colored eggs, and the fancy egg of the pres- 
ent day is, no doubt, a memento of this once popular 
holiday. 

" Of all the festive occasions the most popular, 
however, especially among the children, was Santa 
Claus, or St. Xicholas day, which was celebrated on 
December 6tli. St. Nicholas was the town's patron 
saint, and he was believed to take special care of his 
favorite city. He was supposed to be a jolly, rosy- 
cheeked little old man, with a low-crowned hat, who 
came in a well-laden sleigh drawn by reindeer. 
Stockings were hung up and a hymn was sung, the 
last four lines of which were: 

" ' Saint Nicholas, my dear good friend, 
To serve you ever was my end ; 
If you me now something will give, 
Serve you I will as long as I live.' 

" Gradually, Santa Claus and Christmas time be- 
came associated, and the visit of the former was not 
expected until December 25tli. Then there was a 
merry celebration, which good old Dutch custom the 
people of ISTew York have kept up ever since." 



CHAPTER III 

" Gexerally," said tlie professor, " when a city 
is captured tlie people feel a strong sense of resent- 
ment against the conqnerors, bnt such was not the 
case when the English took New Amsterdam in 1(364. 
The Dutch burghers felt that the West India Com- 
pany had neglected them and treated them badly; 
the English inhabitants, of whom there were quite 
a number, were pleased to see their own flag aloft; 
and the French, who formed the next most important 
part of the population, were indifferent. Already, as 
you will notice, there was a decidedly mixed popula- 
tion, and it would have been as difficult then as now 
to say who was a typical Manhattanese." 

" Did the English have any real right to take New 
Amsterdam? " asked George. 

" Yes, and no," answered the professor. " They 
claimed that because the Cabots had sailed along the 
coast, they (the English) were entitled to the land 
by right of discovery. On the other hand, the 
Dutch were the first settlers, and there is no dispute 
about the fact that they bought the land from the 
Indians, who certainly were the original owners." 

" It seems to me, then, that the Dutch had a right 
to it," remarked Tom. 
43 



BE5 



^^r^m^^f^^z som ^mi^^ m^m^ 




2 a 



" -a 



44 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

" Such is my view of the case," said the professor; 
" but in those clays might was generally considered 
right, and so the English remained in possession. 

" K^icolls, the new governor, was a gentle con- 
queror and a pleasant gentleman, and tried in every 
possible way to make his rule popular. The Dutch 
and the French, as well as the English, were allowed 
to use the church in the fort, and no effort was made 
to disturb any of the customs of the old burghers. 
After a while English was declared to be the official 
language, and a mayor, a sheriff, and aldermen took 
the places of the Dutch officials. About the same 
time the name of the city was changed from 'New 
Amsterdam to New York, in honor of the duke. I 
have always felt sorry that this change was made, 
because the city was in reality a New Amsterdam, 
but never a New York. Fortunately, the good old 
Dutch name of Harlem was not disturbed, and still 
serves as a reminder of its true origin. 

" The second governor was Francis Lovelace, 
who, like Nicolls, had pleasing ways, and treated the 
people well. Still, as far as real liberty was con- 
cerned, they enjoyed little more than when they 
were under the control of the AVest India Company. 

" There is one of Lovelace's acts, however, 
that deserves special mention, and renders his name 
worthy of remendn-ance. In 1672 he established a 
postal service between jSTew York and Boston. In 
January of that year the first letter carrier mounted 
his horse and began his journey up the Bowery road 
toward the village of Harlem. Here his arrival 
caused great excitement, and he was treated to some 



46 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

liome-brewed beer. As he passed on tlirongli tlie 
woods of Coiiiiectieiit he marked the trees so as to be 
able to find his way back. At Hartford he changed 
horses, and after a tedious trip reached Boston. In 
the meantime a locked box was kept at a convenient 
place in the town to receive letters and parcels for 
the next month's mail. Such was ISTew York's earli- 
est post oifice. Have you any idea to what extent it 
has now grown? " 

ISTone of us could answer this question. 

" In 1898," said the professor, " it sold over three 
hundred millions of stamps and seventy-five millions 
of postal cards, and instead of a delivery once a 
month, there are now nine mails a day each way be- 
tween New York and Boston. It was through Love- 
lace's postman that the first communication was 
established between the colonies, and this gradually 
developed into a bond so firm that, in after years, all 
England's strength could not break it. 

" In 1672 w^ar broke out between England and 
Holland, and one fine day two fierce Dutch captains, 
Colve and Evertsen, sailed into N^ew York Harbor 
and ordered the town to surrender, in very much the 
same manner as NicoUs had done in 1664, the difi^er- 
ence being that the Dutch came openly in a period of 
Avar, while the English stole in during an era of 
peace. The latter proved to be no better defenders 
than the Hollanders, and the two captains were soon 
in possession of the city, which they quickly converted 
once more into a Dutch town, calling it by its original 
name of ISTew Amsterdam. This lasted for little more 
than a year, when peace was declared, and the city 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



47 




The city's seal. 



was yielded to the English, the Dutch taking Surinam 
in Guiana instead. Strange to say, both the English 
and the Dutch believed, 
after the bargain had been 
made, that Surinam was 
the more desirable pos- 
session. 

"• A privilege was grant- 
ed the city in 1678 that 
helped it along prodigious- 
ly, and has been remem- 
bered ever since by sym- 
bolizing it in the city's seal. 
By the way, can you describe the seal? " 

" There's a sailor and an Indian," said George. 

" Correct; and what else? " 

" An eagle, I think," suggested Tom. 

" Yes, and several other objects that you have 
probably never noticed. Here is a copy of the seal," 
said the professor, taking a paper from his pocket. 
" Let us examine it carefully. The presence of the 
beavers you will, no doubt, understand; but what is 
the meaning of the windmill arms and two barrels? " 

We did not answer, and awaited an explanation. 

"In 1678 ISTew York was granted the exclusive 
right to bolt flour — that is, to sift the coarser from 
the finer particles — and to pack it for export. This 
monopoly brought great prosperity to the people, 
and helped immensely to build up the city. Several 
hundred new houses were erected in a short time, 
and many new ships were built. Thus the flour bar- 
rels and the windmill arms, together with the bca- 



48 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

vers, were chosen as symbols to represent the earliest 
causes of the city's prosperity." 

'' What do the Latin words mean? " asked Tom. 

" Seal of the City of IsTew Ehoracum, the Latin 
name given by the Romans to the town of York in 
England." 

" How old is the seal? " asked George. 

" It was granted in 1686, and then had a crown 
where now the eagle appears. 

'' The Bolting Act went into force during the 
rule of Sir Edmund Andros, who governed from 
1674 to 1682. He was a hot-tempered individual, 
and became known as * the Tyrant.' This was 
hardly fair, as he was no more of an autocrat than 
those who had preceded him, but it seems that the 
people expected much greater liberties than the 
duke was willing to grant. Andros was followed by 
Thomas Dongan, who remained in ofiice for six 
years from 1682. Like his master, the duke, he 
was a Catholic, and for this reason was at first re- 
garded with suspicion, nearly all the citizens of New 
York being of the Protestant faith. Gradually, 
however, his pleasiug ways, his justness, and his in- 
tegrity won the good will of most of the people — a 
feeling that was strengthened when he announced 
that he was authorized to grant the colony a liberal 
charter. This important grant — since known as 
the Dongan Charter — forms the basis of our rights 
as citizens to-day, and it was the first real taste of 
liberty given to the people. It provided trial by 
jury, freedom of religion, and taxation only by the 
consent of those taxed. A copy of the charter, bear- 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 49 

ing the date of April 2,2, 1G86, is preserved in a tin 
box in the City Hall, where it can be seen by all 
those who care to look at it. 

" In 1085 the Dnke of York succeeded his 
brother and became King of England, nnder the title 
of James II. After being sure of his place, he threw 
off the mask of liberality he had worn as dnke and 
show^ed himself in his trne light. He began a series 
of religious persecutions of the crudest kind, and 
treated those who opposed his political views with the 
utmost barbarity. Men were shot or hung without 
trial, and women were burned at the stake. Pres- 
ently he revoked the charter he had granted New 
York, and actually wiped the province out of exist- 
ence by making it a part of Xew England. In order 
to make this very plain to the people, he ordered the 
city's seal to be jmblicly ])roken and that of New 
England to l)e adopted in its place. His reign was 
a prolonged period of awful cruelties and oppression, 
and finally, in 1089, the English drove him from the 
throne." 

" I am sorry New York was ever named after 
him," said Emily. 

"He surely did not deserve any such lionor, but 
there is one satisfaction connected with the name. 
It suggests York of England, where the civilization 
of Europe began, and wliere to-day flourish many 
splendid institutions of learning and fine arts. 

" The dethronenu'ut of James caused great ex- 
citement in England and stirred up an extraordinary 
commotion in New York. ' If tlic king has ficd,' 
said the peojjle, ' then the officials he appointed have 



50 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

no further power over us; furtliermore, we do not 
trust any one that is a Catholic or has been appointed 
by a Catholic.' All sorts of rumors were soon 
afloat regarding plots to burn the city and to kill the 
Protestants. Two parties arose, one eager to dis- 
charge the old officials without delay, the other de- 
sirous of awaiting new instructions from England. 
In the meantime, Mary, daughter of James II, and 
her husband, William of Orange, a prince of Hol- 
land, both Protestants, were invited to occupy the 
throne of England. This piece of news was joy- 
fully received in New York, but the excitement 
continued. At length a Committe of Safety was 
organized, and Jacob Leisler, a respected citizen 
and captain of one of the militia companies of the 
city, was chosen to be commander ])ending the 
arrival of a new governor. The opposition party 
rebelled against this act and caused Leisler no end 
of trouble. Thus the community was in a con- 
stant turmoil, and once Leisler was almost killed. 
Finally, toward the end of 1 090, Henry Sloughter, a 
broken-down English adventurer, was appointed gov- 
ernor, and Pichard Ingoldsby lieutenant governor. 
They set sail for America, but on the way the 
ships parted comjiany, and Ingoldsby arrived first. 
He at once ordered Leisler to give up the fort and 
submit to him. This, Leisler very promptly refused 
to do, as Ingoldsby liad no papers with him to show 
that he had any authority. The situation now grew 
worse than ever, and the strain became so great that 
bloodshed was feared. It took Sloughter nearly two 
months to find New York, and not until the middle 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF XEW YORK 51 

of March, 1691, did his ship enter tlie harbor. Leis- 
ler then resigned his position, but was at once ar- 
rested and charged with treason. He was found 
guilty, but Sloughter, whose conscience, no doubt, 
troubled him, would not sign the death warrant. 
Leisler's enemies, however, were active, and they 
knew how to manage Sloughter. One evening they 
invited him to a banquet, filled him with wine, 
and obtained his signature. A few days later, 
Leisler and his son-in-law were led to the gallows, 
erected, it is believed, where the building of the j^ew 
York Sun now stands. Here, in a drizzling rain, 
the two men were executed. It was a terrible scene ; 
men wept, women fainted, and many carried away 
pieces of Leisler's garments, looking upon him as a 
martyr." 

" Poor man! " said Emily, with tears in her eyes. 

" Poor in one sense, but great in another," re- 
marked the professor. " Leisler gave up his life that 
others might enjoy more happiness. During his rule 
the people were given greater liberty than they had 
ever enjoyed before, and the seeds thus sown bore 
fruit in later years. His name deserves a lasting 
tribute, and it is to be hoped that some day Xew 
York will erect a fitting memorial to his memory. I 
must not omit to say that, after a time, Parliament 
was just enough to remove the stain of treason from 
his record." 

" That did not do him much good," said Tom 
dryly. 

" Xo, but it benefited his widow and children, re- 
moved the blot from his reputation, and restored to 



52 A LAXDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

tliem his property, which had been confiscated. As 
for Slonghter, he did not live long to exert his per- 
nicious power. In July, 1691, he died — whether 
from remorse or drink is not known." 

"Who was the next governor?" asked George. 

" Benjamin Fletcher, who arrived in August, 
1692. The people were glad to get rid of their old 
ruler, and welcomed the new one, hoping that he 
would be better than his predecessor. Fletcher re- 
ceived a particularly fine welcome, the extravagant 
sum of one hundred dollars being voted by the city 
for a banquet in his honor. The French and their 
allies, the Huron Indians, became troublesome dur- 
ing his time and attacked the Iroquois, who were 
friends of the English. The invaders' first move was 
against Schenectady, after which they intended to 
capture Albany and ISTew York. Fletcher quickly 
organized a force, sailed up the Hudson, marched 
against the French and Indians, and won a decisive 
victory. The Iroquois, admiring his promptness, 
called him ' The Lord of the Swift Arrow,' the peo- 
ple of Albany voted him an address of congratula- 
tions, and 'New York presented him with a beautiful 
gold cup." 

" Good ! " exclaimed Tom. 

" A period of improvement now began, and the 
city showed signs of growth. Fortunately, we have 
an interesting old map, drawn in 1695, that illus- 
trates how the town commenced to spread. Here 
is a copy of this relic," said the professor, laying the 
map before us, " and it is well worthy of a little 
study. New York at this time contained about five 




New York in 1695. Ecproduced from a copy of the original map in 
the Eev. John Miller's Description of the Province and City of 
New York as they existed in the Year 1695. 



54 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

thousand people and some seven hundred and fifty 
houses. The wall, as you see, is clearly indicated, 
extends over to the North River and all the way 
down to the fort, almost surrounding the old Dutch 
town. You will notice also that an uptown move- 
ment had begun, and four new streets appear east 
of Broadway, the most northern being Maiden 
Lane. The other three streets — Crown, Smith, 
and Queen — are now known as Liberty, Cedar, and 
Pine. Broadway was not yet considered impor- 
tant, and the two little streets west of it did not 
amount to much. The favorite thoroughfare was 
Great Queen Street, the road along the river, which 
at present is called Pearl Street. As you can see, it 
stretches up beyond Maiden Lane, and in fact it led 
up to a primitive ferry that ran between Peck Slip 
and Fulton Street, Brooklyn. If the ferryman hap- 
pened not to be at hand, people Avere expected to 
blow a horn that hung on a tree near by, whereupon 
the master of the boat would leave his plow or his 
cow, hurry down to the bank, and row his passengers 
across the river." 

" How did they chance to call a street Maiden 
Lane?" asked Emily. 

" Because in the early days it was, in all likeli- 
hood, a lovers' lane," said the professor; "being a 
natural path marked by a gentle stream and over- 
hanging trees. Here, according to some historians, 
the Dutch maidens washed their linens; according to 
others, they and their swains wandered up and down 
on pleasant afternoons and evenings, never dream- 
ing, it is safe to say, that this road outside of the 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 55 

town's wall would ever become a busy street in a 
great city. The Dutch called it the Maiden's Path; 
later it was changed by the English to Maiden Lane. 
Here are some verses that present a pretty picture 
of this interesting locality: 

" ' Down ]\Iaiden Lane, where clovei" grew, 

Sweet-scented in the early air, 
Where sparkling rills went shining through 

Their grassy banks, so green, so fair, 
Blithe little maids from Holland land 

Went tripping, laughing each to each, 
To bathe the flax, or spread a band 

Of linen in the sun to bleach. 

" ' ]\Iore than two centuries ago 

They wore this path — a maiden's lane — 
Where now such waves of commerce flow 

As never dazed a burgher's brain. 
Two hundred years ago and more 

Those thrifty damsels, one by one. 
With plump, round arms their linen bore 

To dry in ]\Iana-ha-ta's sun. 

'"But now! 15ehold the altered view: 

No tender sward, no bubbling stream, 
No laughter — was it really true. 

Or but the fancy of a dream? 
Were these harsh walls a byway sweet. 

This floor of stone a grassy plain? 
Oh! vanish, modern city street. 

And let us stroll down Maiden Lane! ' 

" The city at the time under consideration was 
about seventy-five years old, and for twenty-one 
years had been under the control of the English. 
Several important changes were now^ made that are 
of interest and that are noticeable to this day. I 
have already told you that the old church in the fort 



56 A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 

served three congregations — the Dutch, the English, 
and the French. This arrangement was no longer 
considered satisfactory, and each began to look about 
for a i^lace of its own. As early as 1688 the French 
Huguenots built a small church where the Produce 
Exchange now stands, opposite Bowling Green. 
The Dutch erected their first house of worship in 
Garden Street, now Exchange Place, in 1693. A 
great silver baptismal bowl was made for it in Hol- 
land, and this can be seen at the present day in the 
church at Fifth Avenue and Twenty-ninth Street, 
which is the direct descendant of the old congrega- 
tion in Garden Street. In 1696 the members of the 
Church of England decided to move uptown and 
selected the present site of Trinity. In February, 
1697, the dedication sermon was preached by the 
Rev. William Vesey, whose name has been bestowed 
on a street that formed a part of the original church 
property. A special pew was set aside for the mayor 
and the Council, and every election day a sermon 
was preached for their special benefit. 

" During this period a wave of enterprise swept 
over the little city. ISTot a single printing press had 
up to this time been established in New York, in 
which respect both Philadelphia and Boston were in 
advance of Manhattan. Early in 1693 William 
Bradford, Philadelphia's printer, got into a quarrel 
with the Quakers, and New York invited him to 
transfer his plant. He did so, set up his press at 81 
Pearl Street, and printed the laws, almanacs, and 
many curious pamphlets, all of which are now eager- 
ly sought by collectors of old books. A tablet. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 57 

which we shall see later, marks the site of Bradford's 
first office. 

*' The second undertaking was the lighting of the 
streets. Except when the moon was good enough to 
shed her beams upon the town, Xew York was a 
city of darkness. Kow, an order was issued pro- 
viding that every seventh householder ' in the dark 
time of the moon ' hang a lantern containing a candle 
on a pole, the charge to be equally divided by the 
tenants of the seven houses. 

" The third step was the formation of a night 
watch, consisting of four good and honest inhabit- 
ants, whose duty it was to watch from nine in the 
evening until the break of day, to go around the city 
each hour of the night with a bell, and to call out 
the hour and the condition of the weather. 

" Kumors of one of the many wars between 
France and England having reached Xew York 
about this time, the governor ordered a platform to 
be built on the rocks that jutted out of the water 
near the fort, to support a battery that would com- 
mand both rivers. Thus the name Battery came to 
be applied to this section. The rocks, it is believed, 
are now under the made ground at Battery Park. 
The French, fortunately, did not cross the ocean to 
disturb the peace of Xew York, and all fear of such 
an occurrence having passed, the old stockade along 
Wall Street, being in a dilapidated condition, was 
pulled down. 

" Having made these various improvements in 
the interest of the city, the authorities began to 
think of their own dignitv and comfort. As the 



58 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

old City Hall in Pearl Street was sliowing signs 
of decay, they proposed erecting a fine new build- 
ing at the corner of Wall and Broad Streets, where 
the Subtreasury stands to-day. In 1699 the cor- 
ner stone was laid with considerable ceremony, 
and for more than a century this new hall served the 
purposes of the city. After the Revolution, Con- 
gress met within its walls, and on its balcony, in the 
presence of a great assemblage of people, the presi- 
dential oath was administered to Washington. But, 
of course, in the year 1099 no one thought of a Presi- 
dent or a republic, or even of a great city whose 
population would be counted by the million." 



CHAPTER IV 

" Pirates, smugglers, and slave dealers," an- 
nounced the professor the next time we met, as if 
he were giving out a text. 

" I do not wonder," he added, "" that you appear 
surprised, but it is a fact that in the early years 
of 1700 Xew York not only permitted but actually 
welcomed men engaged in all three of the vocations I 
have mentioned. It was no unusual sight to see 
fierce, sun-browned individuals, swaggering through 
the streets, wearing a broad crimson sash across the 
left shoulder, a laced cap, a fancy jacket, white knick- 
erbockers, a heavy gold chain, and no less than three 
or four richly mounted pistols in a gaudy belt. 
These men, just returned, perhaps, from a cruise in 
the Indian Ocean, felt quite at home in ]Srew York, 
and were entertained, it is said, in some of its best 
houses." 

"How did it all come about? " asked George. 

" In those days there was very little manufactur- 
ing in the colonies, and J^ew York, ])eing a seaport 
town, was dependent on ocean industries. The 
merchants engaged in river traffic, sent vessels up 
and down the coast, and traded with England, Africa, 
the East and West Indies, Now, every few years 

59 



60 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

the European nations became involved in war, where- 
upon the seas were scoured by war ships and pri- 
vateers, privateering being considered legitimate and 
perfectly honest. It meant that any man could get 
a commission to fill a ship with armed men and prey 
on the merchant vessels of the enemy. But men 
engaged in this sort of traffic were not overscrupu- 
lous, and the temptation to attack any vessel, no mat- 
ter what flag it happened to fly, was sometimes too 
strong to be resisted; so the step from privateering 
to piracy was a short and an easy one. Of course, 
everybody posed as a good, honest privateer, and few 
questions were asked as to just how the rich silks and 
other costly products of the Orient were obtained. 
Furthermore, it was an open secret that some of the 
most prominent men in the city were interested in 
these enterprises." 

" You don't say! " exclaimed Tom. 

" Yes," said the professor, " but at length matters 
became so bad that no vessel was safe on the high 
seas, whereupon King William called a meeting of 
prominent lords, including Lord Bellomont, who 
later became Governor of New York, and, pointing 
out the audacity with which the pirates roamed the 
seas, announced that he had formed a company to ex- 
terminate these pests of the ocean. The plan was 
to wage war against the pirates and divide the spoils 
with which their ships were laden. In other words, 
the king entered into a partnership to prey U]")on dis- 
honest privateers, and koo]) the booty instead of re- 
turning it to its rightful owners. This extraordi- 
nary scheme was devised, it is said, because the king 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 61 

was very short of money. A man was now wanted 
to head the expedition, and Bellomont recom- 
mended Captain William Kidd, of Xew York, a sea- 
man of ' tried conrage and integrity,' who happened 
to be in London at the time." 

The name of Kidd caused the faces of the boys 
to light up with unusual interest. 

" Without delay, the ' true and well-beloved Cap- 
tain Kidd,' as the king called him, was made com- 
mander of the fine ship Adventure, in which he 
sailed from England in May, 1G9G, carrying thirty 
guns and a crew of eighty men. He arrived in Xew 
York in due time, increased his crew to one hundred 
and fifty-five, said good-bye to his wife and children, 
and sailed forth. Time passed, and after a while 
strange rumors began to circulate. It was whis- 
pered that Captain Kidd, instead of hunting pirates, 
had turned pirate himself; in fact, had l)ecome a very 
king of pirates, striking terror into the hearts of 
many a Xew York shipowner. In the meantime 
Bellomont had been appointed Governor of New 
York. Xaturally he was greatly exasperated at 
Kidd's treachery and hoped for the time when he 
could catch the false captain. Three years passed, 
and then, one day, Kidd slipped into Long Island 
8ouud, stopped at one or two places, buried some of 
his treasure, it is said, and then went on to Boston. 
He had learned that Bellomont was there, and be- 
lieved that his old friend would protect him. In 
this he was mistaken. He was arrested, sent to Eng- 
land and hanged." 

"And how about his treasure?" asked Tom. 



62 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

" I can not say," said the professor. " Perhaps a 
little was found, and this was enough to excite any 
number of people to search in all manner of out-of- 
the-way places for more. Thus Kidd became an 
object of great interest, his deeds w^ere magnified, 
and many ballads were written recounting his ex- 
ploits. 

" Smuggling, as I have already mentioned, was 
another evil of the times. There was a hiw that al- 
most every article brought into the colonies must 
come from England. This was a loss and a hard- 
ship to the merchants, and tempted them to smuggle. 
Thus many a piece of French silk, Italian lace, and 
Indian finery was secretly slipped into jSTew York. 
Fletcher made no serious efforts to stop smuggling, 
partly, perhaps, because he thought England was too 
severe on the colonists, but principally, it is said, be- 
cause the smugglers bribed him to keep quiet. 
Fletcher's behavior in reference to these matters 
caused his recall in 1G98, and then came Bellomont." 

" He was a better governor, was he not? " asked 
George. 

" Yes, he was a man of high character and pure 
motives — a far nobler ty])e than the average gov- 
ernor. He sided with the Leisler party — that is, with 
the common people — as against the aristocrats, who 
wanted to run affairs entirely for their own benefit. 
One of his first acts was to have the bodies of Leisler 
and his son-in-law disinterred and buried with honor. 
Then he began a war against all bril)e-takers, pirates, 
and smugglers. T^nfortunately, he died after ruling 
only three years." 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 63 

" How about the slave dealers? " asked Tom. 

" Oh, yes," said the professor, " I must not for- 
get to tell you about them. The business of stealing 
negroes from their native land was considered per- 
fectly proper and honorable. Ships bearing such 
pious names as the Good Prophet sailed out of iSTew 
York and returned with a cargo of human unfortu- 
nates that were sold like so many beasts of burden 
at a market near the foot of Wall Street. It was a 
common thing to find advertisements in the papers 
describing likely negroes, men and women, just im- 
ported from the coast of Africa. Often the slaves 
ran away, whereupon other advertisements appeared 
offering rewards for the return of the negroes. The 
number of such servants a family owned was regarded 
as a sign of wealth and social position. Of course, 
these negroes were a wild and savage lot when they 
arrived, and the treatment they received did not im- 
prove their character. In 1712 some discontented 
slaves met in an orchard near Maiden Lane and set 
fire to an outhouse. When the citizens ran to put 
out the flames, the blacks fired upon them, killing 
nine and wounding six. Great excitement ensued, 
the soldiers were called out, a pursuit organized, and 
twenty-one slaves captured. All of them were exe- 
cuted — some were hanged, some burned at the stake, 
and others, suspended in chains, were left to starve." 

Emily shuddered, while Tom and George looked 
horrified. 

" Those were cruel times," continued the pro- 
fessor, reading their thoughts, " but it must be re- 
membered that there was no such protection then as 
6 



64 A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 

there is now, and as all sorts of rumors were heard of 
a terrible jDlot to murder the citizens, it was deemed 
necessary to make a telling example of the ring- 
leaders. Twenty-nine years later, in 1741, there 
W'as another scare. Several suspicious fires occurred 
in quick succession, a robbery was committed, and 
some of the stolen articles were found in a low tavern 
owned by wdiites where negroes used to congregate. 
The whole family, including servants, was arrested, 
and, according to the law of the day, sentenced to 
death. An offer of pardon was made to any of 
them who would tell the truth. Thereupon, Mary 
Burton, a wicked white servant, told of a plot on the 
part of the negroes, who then numbered only two 
thousand in a total population of twelve thousand, to 
destroy the town and kill all the people. This was 
an out-and-out falsehood ; the evil character of Mary 
was well known, but the citizens were quickly ex- 
cited, memories of the old plot of 1712 were re- 
vived, all sorts of stories were believed, and, before 
the inhabitants came to their senses, fourteen negroes 
were burned alive, eighteen were hanged, and sev- 
enty-one transported to various places. Two white 
persons were also executed — John Hughson, the 
owner of the tavern, and John Ury, a clergyman. 
He was supposed to be a Catholic priest who was in 
league with the blacks and was inciting them to mur- 
der the Protestants. It was proved that he was not 
a Catholic, and no connection between him and the 
blacks was established, but false testimony sent him 
to the gallows. Such was the fearful result of this 
foolish scare, and a day of thanksgiving was actu- 



A I.ANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 65 

ally appointed to celebrate the city's escape from a 
horrible fate." 

'' Weren't Catholic priests allowed in New 
York at that time? " asked George. 

" 'No ; there was a law that all Catholic priests 
found in the colony shonld be condemned to death." 

"How narrow-minded!" said Emily with feel- 
ing- 

"True," agreed the professor; " bnt in those 

days there was great intolerance. Catholic govern- 
ments persecuted and executed Protestants, and the 
latter, I suppose, thought they were justified in re- 
taliating. Of course, it was all wrong — religion 
should teach men to love one another as brothers, 
even though they have different ways of worshiping 
their Almighty Father." 

" Did you not say something about advertise- 
ments and newspapers?" asked George. "When 
was the first newspaper published? " 

" A very proper question," remarked the pro- 
fessor. " The first New York newspaper appeared 
in 1725, and was issued by William Bradford, who 
was then over sixty years old. It w^as called The 
New York Gazette, published once a week, and was 
supposed to contain all the news. The print, as you 
can imagine, was not what we see to-day, and in fact 
the whole paper was a very crude affair, but it paved 
the way for the great feats of journalism that have 
since been accomplished by the New York press. 

" Nine years later, a new paper, called The 
Weekly Journal, made its appearance, the editor be- 
ing John Peter Zenger, who had served as an np- 




^ 

>. 



1-5 ^ 



t-.-t 



> I 

L a 



a cs 

£ CO 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 67 

prentice under Bradford. Zenger was led to under- 
take this enterprise against his okl master because 
there was need of a paper to favor the cause of the 
people, Bradford's CJazette being pledged to the aris- 
tocrats and the governor. 

" The governor, William Cosby, was a despot who 
sought to deprive the people of some of their dear- 
est privileges. This stirred up a great deal of feel- 
ing, and the Journal, among whose writers were 
some of the cleverest men of the day, began to pub- 
lish articles that attracted widespread attention. 
Squibs, ballads, and witty items appeared that hit 
the governor and his friends very hard. These 
paper bullets at last irritated Cosby to such an extent 
that he had Zenger thrown into prison on a charge of 
printing false, scandalous, and seditious matter, and 
at the same time he ordered the city's hangman pub- 
licly to burn certain copies of the paper. The judge 
of the court was a strong friend of Cosby, and could 
be depended on to treat the prisoner with the utmost 
severity. Zenger had the best two lawyers in the 
town to defend him, but b}^ a trick they were de- 
clared in contempt and forbidden to act. There 
being no other Xew York lawyer that could be hired, 
the enemies of Zenger thought they had him com- 
pletely at their mercy. 

"' The trial took place in August, 1735. A great 
crowd tilled the court room, and listened eagerly to 
the charge made by the attorney-general. When 
he had finished there was a stir among the people, 
which was followed by a murmur of surprise when 
a fine-looking, white-haired man arose and said he 



68 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

was there to defend the prisoner. He was instantly 
recognized as Andrew Hamilton, of Philadelphia, 
who, thongh eighty years of age, was acknowledged 
to be one of the ablest lawyers of the conntry." 

" Good! " said Tom, who loved fair play. 

" Hamilton asked to have a chance to prove the 
truth of all that had been published. This was the 
last thing in the world the other side wanted, and 
the judge refused the request. Hamilton cleverly 
turned this refusal to his own advantage in speaking 
to the jury. A long argument now followed be- 
tween the attorney-general and Hamilton, in the 
course of which the latter claimed, in a fine speech, 
that every freeman had a right to complain against 
abuses of power and to preserve the blessings of lib- 
erty. He pointed out that this was not the case 
merely of a poor printer, nor of ISTew York alone, 
but one that would affect eA'ery citizen that lived 
under the British Government in America. In con- 
clusion, he explained to the members of the jury that 
their verdict would decide whether men had the right 
to oppose the acts of tyrants by sj^eaking and writing 
the truth ! 

" The speech of the venerable lawyer was listened 
to with the closest atteution. The jury, after a few 
words from the judge, then withdrew, and in a short 
time returned with a verdict of not guiJtij! " 

"Hurrah!" shouted the boj's, while Emily 
clapped her hands. 

" That's the way the verdict was received in the 
court," said the professor, smiling. " The judge 
tried to stop the shouting, but nobody paid any at- 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 69 

tention to him. As to Hamilton, the grand old man 
who had thus established the liberty of the press, he 
was cheered, banqueted, and presented with the free- 
dom of the city, the certificate being inclosed in a 
beautifid gold box. When, a day or two later, he 
departed for Philadelphia, nearly the whole popula- 
tion turned out to do him honor." 

" What do you mean by the freedom of the 
city? " asked George. 

" It is a special mark of appreciation conferred 
on a non-resident for public services, and entitles him 
to all the rights and privileges of a citizen. 

" You have, no doubt, noticed," continued the 
professor, " that some of the governors sent over by 
England were not very desirable persons. In fact, 
with the exception of a few, they were unsucessful 
men who expected to repair their broken fortunes in 
the colonies. ISTaturally, they thought less of the 
welfare of the people than of their own affairs. One, 
Cornbury, indulged in the silly habit of wearing 
women's clothes; while another, Osborne, having lost 
his wife, imagined that a change of scene would 
benefit him. This sort of treatment on the part of 
England, of course, was felt by the colonists, but, for 
a time, matters of greater importance absorbed their 
attention. 

" The French, having established flourishing set- 
tlements in Canada, and having made friends with 
the Indians, were pushing westward and southward, 
and were actually planning to take j^ew York. 
Montcalm, the French general, was quick, shrewd, 
and successful; the English generals were slow, con- 



70 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



ceited, and inisuecessful. At Ticonderoga, in 1758, 
not heeding the advice of American soldiers, whom 
he looked upon with contempt, Abercrombie sac- 
rificed two thousand brave men. At length a new 



it 








View of the fort about the year 1750. From an old print in 
Valentine's Manual for 1862. 

commander, Wolfe, was sent over, and he turned 
the tide of affairs. Under his able leadership, Que- 
bec, situated on its high rock and considered im- 
pregnable, was captured in 1759. Both command- 
ers fell in this attack, and both were deeply mourned, 
for they were gallant and able generals. Thus Can- 



A LxVXDMAliK HISTORY OF NEW YOIIK 71 

ada came into the hands of the English, the Indians 
for the time being were cowed, and New York was 
safe. 

" In its small Avay, jSTew York w^as now quite a fine 
town. True, its entire population was less than the 
attendance at any popular football match of to-day, 
and one did not need to walk very far along Broad- 
way, north of Trinity, to reach the country; but 
there was plenty of spirit and enterprise, and the 
people felt that they ought to have the best in the 
way of education. Accoi'dingly, a college was sug- 
gested. Trinity church helped along the project 
from the beginning, and as early as 1751 a class met 
in a schoolhouse belonging to the church. Then 
Trinity presented the trustees watli some land form- 
ing part of a large tract west of Broadway, that had 
been granted to it by Queen Anne. The college 
tract lay between Barclay and ]\rurray Streets, and 
extended to the Hudson Biver, ' in the skirts of the 
city,' as an old paper puts it. In 1756 the corner 
stone was laid, and in 1700 the buildings began to 
be used. I'liis w^as the beginning of Cohunbia Col- 
lege, originally called King's College." 

" Why did they change the name? " asked 
George. 

" Because, after the Revolution the people hated 
everything that suggested royalty so much that they 
would not tolerate a King's College, or a Queen, a 
Crown, or a Duke Street. 

"Just before the meddling and blundering acts 
devised by young King George III, and his short- 
sighted advisers brought matters to a crisis, New 



72 A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 

York was a sort of little London. The governor rep- 
resented the king, and with his officers made np a 
petty court, where the aristocrats loved to assemble. 
The governor's coach was a magnificent affair, drawn 
by four or six horses, his lackeys wore fine liveries, 
and the harness used for state occasions was remark- 
ably elegant. Without doubt the town was putting 
on lots of airs. 

" The fashionable promenade was the Mall in the 
neighborhood of Trinity church. Here, on fine 
afternoons, while one of the military bands played, 
the young ladies of the town, accompanied by officers 
in scarlet coats and gold lace, or by gayly dressed 
young men, walked leisurely up and down, the young 
ladies being followed by their negro waiting maids. 
It was generally understood that the ' common peo- 
ple ' were not to use this particular promenade." 

" What a piece of impertinence ! " said Emily. 

" The common people at that time — that is, the 
mechanics and such like — wore big leather aprons, 
while the upper classes dressed in what we would 
now call fancy costumes. 

'' There was a little theater in iSTassau Street that 
was patronized by the fashionables. The play began 
at half past six, but long before that hour the place 
was filled, not by those who were to see the perform- 
ance, but by their negro slaves, who were sent early 
to secure good seats. Thus for hours this curious 
assemblage sat silent in semi-darkness, disappearing 
just before the time the curtain was about to rise. 

" Up to 1765, I venture to say, young King 
George had no more loyal subjects in all his kingdom 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 73 

tlian right here in Xew York. The men were faith- 
ful, and many of the women thought no higher honor 
could befall them than to marry an English officer. 
But in those days an idea prevailed that a colonist 
was not so good as a man who lived on English soil, 
and did not have the same rights. Taxes had been 
levied from time to time, but not regularly or offen- 
sively. Xow, a tax was proposed that was to be vig- 
orously collected — a stamp to be affixed to all sorts 
of paper, even to a marriage license. It was as if 
the mother country were about to put her hand in 
the colonists' pockets and spend their money without 
asking them. Englishmen at home would not stand 
such treatment, and English subjects in America saw 
no reason why they were not entitled to the same 
privileges. The Stamp Act was presently repealed, 
as were other obnoxious laws, but not until the mis- 
chief had been done and the breach irretrievably 
made." 



CHAPTER V 

" We are now ready," said the professor at our 
next meeting, " to take a look at New York as it 
appeared jnst before the Revolution, when it was 
still an English town, but when the spirit of irri- 
tation and discontent had become decidedly notice- 
able." 

Accordingly, we boarded an elevated train and 
rode down to Battery Park. Here the professor 
called our attention to the big flag pole near the new 
Barge Office, and asked us to bear it in mind in con- 
nection with the evacuation of the city by the Eng- 
lish after the Revolutionary War. 

" Let us now cross to the Third Avenue road," he 
suggested, " and ride over to Hanover Square." 

"Why was it called Hanover Square?" asked 
Emily. 

"In honor of King George I, who was of the 
house of Hanover." 

Having entered the train, we soon were made 
aware of the crookedness of the city's old streets by 
a series of sudden twistings and turnings. 

Just as we rounded the second curve the pro- 
fessor called our attention to " Canal-boat village," 
consisting of a flotilla of flat-topped boats moored to 
74 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 75 

one of the long piers of Coenties Slip, near the site 
of the old Dutch City Hall. 

" Those boats come all the way from Buffalo," 
said our guide. " They each carry, besides a load of 
some eight thousand bushels of wheat, or its equiva- 
lent, the captain of the boat, his family, three helpers, 
three horses, and a dog. They are comfortable iloat- 
ing houses and well worth a visit. Try to remember 
about these boats when we come to the interesting 
story of the Erie Canal." 

"What park was that near the boats?" asked 
Emily. 

" Jeanette Park, named after the ship sent to 
the arctic regions by the Xew York Herald." 

A few minutes later we arrived at Hanover 
Square. 

" This," said the professor, " was the business 
center of the city about the year 1765 — the shop- 
ping district where ladies came in search of bargains, 
if such attractions existed at that time. In its way, 
it was a bustling quarter and, without doul)t, pre- 
sented a more varied and striking scene than our 
streets offer to-day, the ornamental sedan chair adding 
its old-world picturesqueness to the surroundings. It 
was also the first Printing House Square, where news 
a week or more old was made public." 

"What's that fine building?" asked George. 

" That is the Cotton Exchange. New York's 
first newspaper was issued where it stands, as you 
can see by consulting the tablet." 

We crossed over to the spot indicated and George 
read the inscription, which is as follows: 



76 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



ON THIS SITE 

WILLIAM BRADFORD, 

APPOINTED PUBLIC PRINTER, APRIL IOth, A. D. 1693, 

ISSUED, NOVEMBER 8th, A. D. 1725, 

THE NEW YORK GAZETTE, 

THE FIRST NEWSPAPER PRINTED IN NEW YORK. 

ERECTED BY THE 

NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 

APRIL 10th, a. D. 1893, 

IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 200th ANNIVERSARY OF 

THE INTRODUCTION OF PRINTING IN NEW YORK. 



"What's the Historical Society?" queried Tom. 

" A society founded in 180-i for preserving 

historical material. The principal organizer was 

John Pintard,wlio as early 
as 1790 established an 
American Museum. A 
highly interesting and 
valuable collection can be 
seen at the society's house, 
corner of Second Avenue 
and Eleventh Street." 

While we were talk- 
ing, our guide led us south- 
ward along Pearl Street, 
the narrowness of which 
is very suggestive of the 
days when New York was 
a small town. At ISTo. 81 we found a tablet, fas- 
tened to the jaml) of the doorway, containing the 
following legend: 




New York Historical Society, 
Eleventh St. aud Second Ave. 



A LANDMARK IIISTOIIY OP NEW YORK 77 



ON THIS SITE 

WILLIAM BRADFORD, 

APPOINTED 

PUBLIC PRINTER 

APRIL 10th, a. D. 1G93, 

ESTABLISHED THE FIRST 

PRINTING PRESS 

IN THE 

COLONY OF NEW YORK. 

ERECTED BY THE 

NEW YORK 

HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 

APRIL 10th, a. D. 1893, 

IN COMMEMORATION OF 

THE 200th ANNIVERSARY 

OF THE INTRODUCTION 

OF PRINTING IN 

NEW Y'ORK. 



" These two plates," remarked the professor, 
" commemorate, as jow see, the establishment of 
printing in the colony and the issue of the first news- 
paper — two very important events. Other journals 
were subsequently launched, and they all played a 
more or less important part during the time of unrest 
that preceded the Revolution. 

" We are now about ready to turn our attention 
to that exciting and momentous period, but before 
doing so let us go over to Bowling Green," suggested 
the professor, " and see what changes have occurred 
since our previous visit." 

Following Stone Street, avo soon reached the 
Green, and, seating ourselves within the little park, 
listened to the professor's remarks. 



78 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

" In 1765 tlie fort was still over yonder where the 
steamship offices used to be, but red-coated sentries 
paced up and down instead of Stuy^^esant's old Dutch 
defenders. This space was no longer open ground, 
but was a veritable bowling green, with an iron rail- 
ing around it, which remains to this day with the ex- 
ception of the top balls. The latter were broken off 
and used by the Americans during the Revolution, 
As to the bowling, permission had been granted as 
early as 1732 to certain residents of Broadway to use 
the plot for that purpose. Some of the old Dutch 
houses were gone, and at ISTo, 1, where now that tall 
office building towers up, a broad, spacious mansion, 
known as the Kennedy House, was located, a house of 
many historic associations, as you will learn," 

" Whose statue is that? " asked George, point- 
ing to the bronze figure that now adorns Bowling 
Green, 

" Abraham de Peyster, son of a leading Dutch 
merchant of ISTew Amsterdam. He was one of Leis- 
ler's supporters, was appointed mayor in 1691, and 
afterward became one of the judges of the Supreme 
Court. 

" It is now high time," said the professor, chang- 
ing the subject, " to introduce you to the Sons of Lib- 
erty." 

" Who were they? " asked Tom. 

"Just about what tlieir name implies; but, curi- 
ously enough, the expression came from England. 
One day, while the Stamp Act was being debated in 
the House of Conunons, Barre, friend and companion 
of Wolfe, the hero of Quebec, in a rousing speech, 




Site of Fort Arasterdani, directly south of Bowling Green. Cleared 
to make room for the new Customhouse. The building to the 
left is No. 1 Broadway. Photographed 1900. 



80 A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 

justified the Sons of Liberty, as he called the Ameri- 
cans, in feeling aggrieved at the treatment they 
had received. The name was cangiit np as if it 
were a magic term. It spread through the colonies 
and was adopted by a secret order, composed of 
men who were determined not to yield the rights 
they had won, and to which they felt they were en- 
titled. 

" Had you lived in New York in the autumn of 
1765 you would have seen exciting times. The 
thought that the Stamp Act was to be enforced was 
in everybody's mind, and had you joined any group 
of citizens you would, no doubt, have heard them 
protesting that they were just as good and just as 
loyal as the subjects of the crown who lived in 
England. You would also, I believe, have heard 
them say that the constitution of England provided 
that its people could be taxed only with their consent, 
but that the colonists had never been consulted about 
this tax, and that, therefore, it was unconstitutional 
and ought to be resisted." 

" That's right," remarked Tom. 

" You must remember," continued the professor, 
" in order to understand the situation clearly, that at 
this time there were four classes of people in I^ew 
York: First, the king's officials, officers, and sol- 
diers; second, a large number of Americans, known 
as Tories or Loyalists, who sided with the king and 
Parliament; third, the Moderates, who were op- 
posed to all unjust measures, but were very conserva- 
tive in their ideas; and, fourth, the Hot-heads, who 
wanted to do all sorts of wild deeds." 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 81 

" To which chiss did the Sons of Liberty belong? " 
asked Tom. 

'' To the Hot-heads, most assuredly," answered 
the professor; *' but, to be perfectly fair, I must say 
that the Liberty Boys meant well, even if they were 
impulsive. Among them, too, were many irrespon- 
sible fellows who were always ready to take part in 
any demonstration for or against the king, and help 
on any mischief that was afoot. 

" The month of October was an exciting period, 
especially after a vessel had been sighted oil" Sandy 
Hook, which was known to contain a shipment of the 
hated stamps. Colden, the lieutenant governor, had 
his hands full, and Gage, the military commander, 
had to be very diplomatic. 

" Mysterious posters now suddenly appeared 
threatening any one found using the stamps, and 
lively ballads were sung in the streets. Here's a 
verse from one," continued the professor, drawing 
out a little memorandum book from his pocket: 

" ' With the beasts of the wood we'll ramble for food 

And lodge in wild deserts and caves, 
And live, poor as Job, on the skirts of the globe 
Before we'll submit to be slaves, brave boys, 

Before we'll submit to be slaves! ' " 

" That's a good one," remarked Tom. 

" The next important step was a meeting of 
merchants at a popular place on Broadway known 
as Burns's Tavern, where a resolution was passed 
called the ' Non-Lnportation Agreement,' which pro- 
vided that no more goods were to be purchased from 
England. Orders were immediately canceled, and 



82 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

a host of English merchants suddenly found a large 
portion of their business gone. In the meantime, 
men and women wore simple home-made clothes, 
and denied themselves many luxuries that they had 
been in the habit of getting from the mother 
country. 

" If you will now take a short walk with me," 
continued the professor, " I shall point out to you the 
memorial that commemorates the beginning of the 
Stamp Act troubles." 

We arrived presently at No. 115 Broadway, and 
here George performed his usual duty, reading the 
following inscription : 



THE SITE OF THE OLD HISTORIC De LANCEY HOUSE, 

AFTERWARD THE " CITY HOTEL." 

THE TAVERN LpCATED HERE HAD VARIOUS PROPRIETORS 

BY WHOSE NAMES IT WAS SUCCESSIVELY CALLED, 

BEING AMONG OTHERS KNOWN AS 

"THE PROVINCE ARMS," "THE CITY ARMS " 

AND " BURNS COFFEE HOUSE OR TAVERN." 

IT WAS HERE THAT THE CELEBRATED 

NON-IMPORTATION AGREEMENT IN OPPOSITION 

TO THE "STAMP ACT " WAS SIGNED OCT. 3]sT, 1765. 

ERECTED BY THE HOLLAND SOCIETY OF 

NEW YORK, MARCH, 1890. 



" At last the fateful ISTovember 1st arrived, the 
date when the Stamp Act was to go into operation. 
The stamps had come, but Golden kei)t them 
locked up for the time being. That evening the 
Liberty Boys assembled on The Gommon, or The 
Fields, as Gity Hall Park was then called, and held 
a stormy meeting. The park at that time was a 



A LANDMARK HISTOKY OF NEW YORK 83 

large open space where the people met on all sorts 
of occasions. To my mind, it is a spot that every 
American, and especially every Ilew York man, 
woman, and child, ongiit to cherish and respect. 1 
always think of it as Liberty Park, for it is closely 
associated with all the early strnggles against op- 
pression. 

" Had yon been in the crowd that antnmn evening- 
yon wonld have seen throngh the glimmer of torch- 
lights a gallows on which linng a stnffed fignre of 
Golden, and another beside it to represent the devil. 
After a while a noisy procession was formed that 
marched down Broadway, carrying the gallows and 
the effigies past St. Panl's, Bnrns's Tavern, and Trin- 
ity. In front of the fort, not many blocks from this 
spot, it halted. 

" Then yon wonld have had a good chance to 
notice the leaders: Colonel John Lamb; hot-headed 
Isaac Sears, called King Scars; shrewd Alexander 
McDougall; lawyer John Morin Scott, and patriot 
Marinns Willett." 

"What did they do next? " asked Tom, his eyes 
bright with excitement. 

"They cheered and they jeered; they dared the 
commander to fire npon them; they placed the gal- 
lows against the fort gate and hammered the doors 
with clnbs. Then they bronght the stnffed figures 
forward, and with them the governor's coach, which 
they had taken from his stable near by, and set the 
whole afire." 

"And what did the governor do?" asked 
George. 



84 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

'' He acted with great moderation/' answered tlie 
professor ; " so did General Gage, who had command 
of the fort. K^o one was punished, and a promise 
was given that no stamps should be issued until 
further instructions came from England. As a mat- 
ter of fact, in March, 1766, a new ministry entered 
into power with Pitt at its head, and the obnoxious 
act was soon repealed. Everybody was happy, 
especially the Liberty Boys, who went wild with 

joy- 

" On June 4tli, the anniversary of the king's 
birthday, a great jubilee was held on the Commons, 
the English flag floated in the breeze, the band 
played ' God save the King,' and a pole bearing a 
shield with the words ' The King, Pitt, and Liberty ' 
was erected. Any one with half an eye could have 
seen that the colonists thus celebrating, were loyal, 
and if there had been no more meddling there might 
have been no more trouble. 

" The soldiers, however, were not disposed to re- 
main quiet. They were supposed to be the protectors 
of the colony, but such were their feelings against the 
people that they looked upon the Liberty pole erected 
on the Common as a symbol of triumph not to be tol- 
erated. Accordingly, one night in August they cut 
it down. Another pole was immediately set in its 
place, and this was also cut down. A third met with 
a similar fate. By this time the citizens were in a 
state of fury, and more determined than ever to 
have their pole. A fourth was thereupon erected 
and fastened with iron braces. This was unmo- 
lested until January, 1770, when, at midnight, it 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 85 

was jralled down by the redcoats and sawed into 
pieces." 

" What a sliame! " exclaimed Eniilv. 

" The outrage was discovered the next morning, 
and the news spread like wildfire. (Ireat excitement 
followed, especially when the following day (Jan- 
uary 18th) Scars came upon three soldiers in the 
act of posting up some scurrilous placards abusing 
the Sons of Liberty. Sears and a companion ar- 
rested two of them and started to take them to the 
mayor's office. A re-enforcement of twenty sol- 
diers with drawn swords and bayonets now rushed 
up to the rescue of their comrades, and a num- 
ber of citizens flocked to the spot armed with 
stakes. 

" The mayor then appeared on the scene and or- 
dered the soldiers to their barracks. The latter re- 
tired to Golden Hill (John Street near William), and 
there, making a stand, charged the people, few of 
whom had weapons, and a bloody fight took place 
in which several individuals on both sides were 
wounded. 

" The next day the soldiers began the confiict 
again by thrusting a bayonet through the dress of a 
woman who was returning from market. This cow- 
ardly act aroused the indignation of the citizens 
anew. Later, a party of sailors, who generally 
sided with the citizens, came into collision with some 
redcoats, and a sailor was run through the body. In 
the afternoon the soldiers insulted several citizens 
and more trouble followed, in the course of which the 
troops were driven back to their barracks. Thus 



SQ A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

ended the battle of Golden Hill, a figlit for a prin- 
ciple, in wliicli the first blood in the War of the 
Revolution was shed." 

"Was that before the Boston massacre?" asked 
George. 

" Nearly two months before, and it was a much 
more important affair." 

" Hurrah for liew York! " shouted Tom. 

The professor smiled at Tom's enthusiasm, and 
continued bj informing us that the Sons of Liberty 
now raised a fifth pole — a great high staft" with a vane 
at the top bearing the simple but significant word — 
Liberty. It was not molested. 

"Is there a tablet at Golden Hill?" asked 
George. 

" Yes," answered the professor, " and it may be 
well to visit it at once. We shall have to retrace our 
steps several times to see the tablets of this period in 
their proper order; but, I presume, you will not mind 
a little additional walking? " 

ISTo objection was made. The professor turned 
into Maiden Lane on reaching that interesting street, 
and we took great pleasure in passing down the old 
Dutch path so suggestive of romantic associations. 
Entering William Street and going northward one 
block, we paused at John Street. 

" This is Golden Hill," remarked the professor. 

" Why was it so called? " asked Emily. 

" Because originally it Avas a sloping field of 
grain that looked like gold in the sunshine. The hill 
is still here, and perhaps plenty of gold, but not the 
kind that gave the historic place its name." 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 87 

At the northwest corner of the two streets we 
found a small plain tablet bearing these noteworthy 
w^ords : 



GOLDEN HILL. 

HERE JANUARY 18, 1770, 

THE FIGHT TOOK PLACE BETWEEN THE 

" SONS OF LIBERTY " 

AND THE 

BRITISH REGULARS, 16th FOOT. 

FIRST BLOOD IN THE 

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION. 

ERECTED BY THE SONS OF THE REVOLUTION. 



" There ought to be a fine marble monument 
here," said Tom. 

" There's not enough room, but one ought cer- 
tainly to be placed in City Hall Park, in memory of 
the first liberty poles." 

"Who are the Sons of the Revolution?" asked 
George. 

" A society intended to keep alive the patriotic 
spirit of the men who in military, naval, or civil 
service, by act or counsel, achieved American in- 
dependence. To become a member a man must 
be at least twenty-one years old and be descended 
from an ancestor who in one form of service or 
another assisted in establishing American independ- 
ence. 

" Suppose we now take a look at the place where 
the Sons of Liberty used to gather," added the pro- 
fessor. 

The suggestion was enthusiastically received, and 



88 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

walking up John Street, past the First Methodist 
Church, we turned into Broadway once more and 
soon reached the big post-office building, wherein 
we found a handsome bronze plate inscribed as fol- 
lows : 



ON THE COMMON OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK 

NEAR WHERE THIS BUILDING NOW STANDS THERE 

STOOD FROM 1766 TO 1776 A LIBERTY POLE ERECTED 

TO COMMEMORATE THE REPEAL OF THE STAMP ACT 

IT WAS REPEATEDLY DESTROYED BY THE VIOLENCE OF 

THE TORIES AND AS REPEATEDLY REPLACED BY THE 

SONS OF LIBERTY WHO ORGANIZED A CONSTANT 

WATCH AND GUARD. IN ITS DEFENCE THE 

FIRST MARTYR BLOOD OF THE AMERICAN 

REVOLUTION WAS SHED ON JAN. 18, 1770. 

A. D. 1897 ERECTED BY THE MARY WASHINGTON COLONIAL CHAPTER, 
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 



" Who are the Daughters of the American Revo- 
lution? " asked Emilj. 

" Sisters, cousins, or aunts of the Sons, I im- 
agine," answered the professor; " at any rate the 
rules of admission are the same, except that a Daugh- 
ter can become a member at eighteen, while a Son 
must be twenty-one." 

Emerging from the building at one of the up- 
town exits, we saw the park before us. 

" This was the Common, a big open space, not as 
attractive as it is now, but none the less sacred 
ground. No tall structures surrounded it, no swift- 
ly moving cars glided by, no fountain graced a well- 
kept lawn — it was blank and barren; soldiers' bar- 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 89 

racks occupied the upper end along Chambers 
Street, a workhonse and a powder magazine being 
near bv. A new jail, called the Bridewell, was sit- 
uated jnst to the west of the spot wdiere the City Hall 
now stands, and to the northeast was the Provost or 
Debtors' Prison. There it still stands," said the pro- 
fessor, pointing to the Hall of Records. " We shall 
pay it a visit later. 

" During the ten distressing years that intervened 
between the passage of the Stamp Act and the begin- 
ning of the Revolution many remarkable meetings 
took place on the Common, and at one of these, held 
in July, 177-i, Alexander Hamilton, then but a youth 
of seventeen, made an address. His slight figure 
and boyish appearance at once aroused curiosity, but 
he was so startled at the sea of strange faces before 
him that at first he faltered. Gradually, however, 
gathering courage, he warmed up to his theme; 
thoughts of wrongs and oppression that had long- 
been in his mind found expression in such strong, 
clear, and thrilling words, that when he finished, 
for a moment, there was breathless silence, and 
then exclamations of wonder at his youth and 
praise of his extraordinary eloquence w^ere heard on 
all sides. 

" In spite of various forms of oppression, the 
people continued loyal, and in 1770, as a token of 
their gratitude for the repeal of the Stamp Act, 
they erected in Bowling Green a leaden statue 
of King George on horseback, very much in appear- 
ance like that of 'Washington in Union Square. 
They also placed a marble figure of Pitt in AVall 



90 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

Street near William, wliicli bore these significant 
words: 



THIS STATUE 

OF THE 

RIGHT HONOURABLE 

WILLIAM PITT 

EARL OF CHATHAM, 

WAS ERECTED 

AS A PUBLICK TESTIMONY OF THE GRATEFUL 

SENSE THE COLONY OF NEW Y'ORK 

RETAINS OF THE MANY EMINENT 

SERVICES HE RENDERED AMERICA, 

PARTICULARLY IN PROMOTING THE REPEAL 

OF THE STAMP ACT, 

ANNO DOM. MDCCLXX. 



''What became of Pitt's statue?" asked Emilv. 

'' It was mutilated, as you will learn before long, 
and finally, after a varied career, it found an honor- 
able resting place in the hall of the New York His- 
torical Society. 

" Young King George had not forgotten his de- 
feat in connection with the Stamp Act, and he now 
foolishly decided to get revenge. Accordingly, he 
had a new measure passed taxing tea, which was a 
sort of challenge to see what the colonies would 
do about it. They treated it as it deserved, and 
New York indulged in a little Tea Party." 

" Was that before or after the Boston Tea 
Party? " asked George. 

" After. It appears that the ship intended for 
New York, the Nancy, was driven out of her course, 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 91 

and did not reach here until April, 1774, four months 
after the Boston tea episode. The Xancy, according 
to an article in one of the papers of the day, was said 
to have something on board worse than a Jonah. A 
committee of the Sons of Liberty took her in charge 
and kept her down the bay. In the meantime an- 
other ship, the London, arrived. Her captain said 
he had no tea on board, bnt the Liberty Boys fonnd 
eighteen chests. These they opened, poured the tea 
into the river, and, after two hours of quiet amuse- 
ment of this sort, dispersed in good order." 

" What became of the Nancy? " asked George. 

" She was sent back to England with her whole 
cargo of tea, and the untruthful captain of the Lon- 
don was sent along. Here is a poetic sentiment of 
the time that may interest you," added the professor, 
referring to his note-book. 

" ' When a certain great king', wliose initial is G., 
Forces Stamps upon paper, and folks to drink Tea; 
W'hen these folks burn liis tea and stampt paper like stub- 
ble— 
You may guess that this king is then coming to trouble.' 

" And here is another : 

" ' At this time arose a certain King Sears, 
Who made his study to banish our fears; 
He was without doubt a person of merit, 
Great knowledge, some wit, and abundance of spirit; 
Could talk like a lawyer, and that without fee, 
And threaten'd perdition to all who drank tea.' 

" King George was now very angry at the Ameri- 
cans, and especially at the people of Boston, because 
he thought they were more disobedient than the citi- 



92 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

zens of other cities. Accordingly, he made up his 
mind to punish Boston, and at the same time show 
the other colonies that he was master. In April, 
1774, he managed to get Parliament, not without 
considerable opposition, however, to pass an act shut- 
ting up Boston as a port and annulling the charter of 
Massachusetts. This meant the destruction of all 
shipping business for the city and the appointment of 
a governor with despotic power for the Common- 
wealth. When this piece of news became known a 
wave of indignation spread through the colonies, and 
a feeling of sympathy with unhappy Boston stirred 
every patriotic heart. There had been jealousies 
and quarrels among the colonies before, but now a 
bond of brotherhood was created that grew stronger 
from day to day. 

'' I need scarcely tell you, I presume," continued 
the professor, " what occurred on April 19, 1775? " 

" The battle of Lexington," answered Emily, 
George, and Tom, in one breath. 

" Correct," said the professor. " Four days 
later, on Sunday afternoon, a dust-stained horseman 
dashed furiously down Broadway with the news of 
that world-changing battle. You can imagine the 
effect of his information as it was repeated by one 
excited group to another. New York was still in 
the hands of the Tories, but the patriots were quick to 
act. Forgetting all about the Sabbath, a band of 
Liberty Boys marched down to the City Hall in 
Wall Street, forced open the doors and took six 
hundred muskets, which they distributed among 
the more active citizens, who formed themselves into 



A LAND:\IARK history of new YORK 93 

a volunteer corps and assumed the government of 
the city. 

" To find the next historic site of special interest," 
continued the professor, " we'll have to go back 
almost to the spot whence we started, but we shall be 
well repaid for our pilgrimage." 

In passing along Nassau Street, which, as we were 
informed, was once known as Piewoman's Lane, our 
guide began describing to us a memorial of what 
he termed " one of the most extraordinary acts of 
daring patriotism on record." 

He stopped us at the corner of Broad and Beaver 
Streets, before a handsome tablet, and George, with- 
out waiting, began to read : 



TO COMMEMORATE THE GALLANT AND PATRIOTIC 

ACT OF MARINUS WILLETT IN HERE SEIZING, 

JUNE 6th, 1775, FROM BRITISH FORCES THE 

MUSKETS WITH WHICH HE ARMED HIS 

TROOPS. THIS TABLET IS ERECTED BY 

THE SOCIETY OF THE SONS OF THE 

REVOLUTION. NEW YORK, NOV., 1892. 

Born, July, 1740. Marinus Willett. Died Aug., 1830. 

Officer of New York Militia 1775-78. Sheriff of New York 1784-93. 

Mayor of New York 1807-8. President op Electoral College 1824. 



" Notice the fine medallion of Willett," said the 
professor, " and the surprisingly clear picture of the 
troops, the houses, and the view of the City Hall at 
the end of Broad Street." 

" What is the story? " asked Tom. 

" A committee of one hundred patriots was in 
charge of the city at the time. In tlie harbor lay the 



94 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



British frigate Asia, ready to convey a regiment of 
soldiers from the fort to Boston. A curiously con- 
fused state of peace 
and war now ex- 
isted, ^o opposition 
was to be made to 
the landing of Brit- 
ish troops, but force 
was to be met with 
force. Meanwhile, 
permission was given 
to the regiment to 
depart, but with such 
arms only as the 
men carried on their 
persons. In other 
words, a jSTew York 
committee was dic- 
tating to British 
troops what they 
should be allowed 
to do. 

'' On June 6, 
1775, the soldiers 
marched along here 
on their way to the 
wharf, and many 
people were out to 
see them leave, say- 
ing in their hearts, ' Good riddance! ' Suddenly the 
rumbling of carts was heard, and when they came 
into view it was seen that they contained stacks of 




Marinus Willett tablet, corner 

Broad and Beaver Streets. 

Photographed 1900. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 95 

arms. jSToticiiig' this, Marinus Willett stepped boldly 
forward and stopped tlie horse of the first cart. Im- 
mediately the major galloped np to see what was the 
matter, whereupon AVillett told him that he had no 
authority to carry olf the arms in the wagons. 

" A discussion then took place, the n})sliot being 
that Willett jumped into the cart, turned it about, 
and, followed by the others, made his way up Broad- 
way amid a constant accompaniment of cheers. The 
arms were safely i)ut away, and afterward used by 
the first patriot troops raised in Xew York. The 
tablet tells you of Willett's subsequent honors, to 
which may be added the interesting item that two of 
our streets have been named after him — Willett and 
Sheriff Streets. 

" The year 1775 continued to be a time of almost 
constant excitement and every one was restless and 
uneasy. Representatives of the different colonies 
were in session at Philadelphia, and all sorts of meas- 
ures were being considered. At length a resolution 
was passed recommending each colony to organize 
companies of militia. A corps was formed in jSTow 
York called T\\e Hearts of Oak, the members of 
which wore green uniforms and leather caps bearing 
the significant inscription, Frpedorn or DeatJi. Every 
day a drill took place and a crowd of enthusiastic citi- 
zens gathered to see the young men display their 
knowledge of military tactics. 

" The Hearts of Oak soon had a taste of gunpow- 
der. They had been ordered by the Committee of 
Safety to remove the cannons from the Battery, and 
while they were thus occu})ied a boat from the Eng- 



96 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

lish man-of-war Asia approached, intending-, it was 
snpposed, to interfere wdtli the work. Without stop- 
ping to think of consequences, some one tired at the 
boat, which immodiatel}^ returned a broadside, kill- 
ing one of the youthful militiamen. 

" The result of this incident was a violent commo- 
tion, and crowds of Liberty Boys traversed the streets 
threatening every adherent of the crown with per- 
sonal violence. One party made its way to Kiug's 
College to seize the person of the president, Doctor 
Cooper, wdio was known to be a Tory. Alexander 
Hamilton and a few others, discovering the destina- 
tion of the crowd, rushed forward and mounted the 
stoop. Young Hamilton, in order to give the presi- 
dent a chance to escape, began an earnest speech. He 
w'as progressing splendidly when the doctor, looking 
out of an upper window and thinking that the young- 
orator w\as trying to incite the populace, cried out, 
'Don't listen to him, gentlemen; he is crazy, he is 
crazy! ' The eifeet may l)e imagined. Hamilton 
found it difficult to keep from laughing, l;)ut he man- 
aged in spite of the startling interruption to hold his 
audience long enough to permit the terrified doctor to 
make good his escape to a war vessel in the liar1)or. 

" The situation kept growing worse and worse, 
reconciliation at length became an impossibility, and, 
as a last resort, it was solemnly and regretfully de- 
cided to sever the bond that united the colonies with 
the mother country and to proclaim independence. 

" Five days later the stirring words of that im- 
mortal proclamation were read to the troops assem- 
bled near the Liberty pole on the Common. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 



97 



" On the west wing of our present City Hall," 
continued the professor, " yon can see a tablet refer- 
ring to the great event, which bears this inscription: 



NEAR THIS SPOT IN THE PRESENCE OF 

GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON 

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 

WAS READ AND PUBLISHED 

TO THE 

AMERICAN ARMY 

JULY 9. 1776. 



" Of course, von know," said the professor, " that 
Thomas Jeiferson's gifted pen wrote this wonderful 
Declaration, but as Xew- ^ 

Yorkers you ought to bear ^-j-^ «^, 

in mind that one of the com- 
mittee that assisted him in 
his work was Robert li. Liv- 
ingston, of whose career his 
country and his State may 
well be proud. At this time, 
it is proper also to mention 
the name of Thomas Paine, 
an Englishman, who resided 
for many years in Xew York. 
In January, 1 776, he issued a 
pamphlet called Common Sense, in which he advo- 
cated separation and indejxmdence. It immediately 
became popidar, its circidatioii reached an astonish- 
ing figure, and it undoubtedly helped greatly to pave 
the way for the great step. 




98 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

" The reading of tlie Declaration of Independ- 
ence was an inspiring occasion. All the troops of 
the city were present, formed in a hollow square. 
Presently Washington and his staff rode into the 
center, and the immortal words were read. A burst 
of applause arose from the assemblage when the last 
sentence was uttered. Then the citizens, moved by 
a sudden impulse, rushed down to the City Hall in 
Wall Street, tore off the portrait of George III that 
was hanging there, and trampled upon it. I^ot 
to be outdone, the soldiers gathered at Bowling 
Green and pulled down the king's statue. Later, 
the British troops, in a spirit of revenge, muti- 
lated the marble statue of Pitt. It was now evident 
that George the King was despised, and that a new 
George sat enthroned in the hearts of the people. 

" At IsTo. 1 Broadway, opposite Bowling Green, 
there is a tablet that refers to an incident I have just 
mentioned. Let us look at it." 

We found it presently, and were much inter- 
ested in the legend it contains, which is as follows: 



HERE STOOD KENNEDY HOUSE 
ONCE HEADQUARTERS OF 

GENERALS WASHINGTON AND LEE. 

OX THE BOWLING GREEN 

OPPOSITE, THE LEADEN STATUE 

OP KING GEORGE WAS 

DESTROYED BY THE PEOPLE 

JULY 9, 1776, AND LATER 

MADE INTO BULLETS FOR THE 

AMERICAN ARMY. 







LofC. 



100 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

'' Served him right," commented Tom. 

" 'Twas hicky for the Americans that it was made 
of lead," suggested George. 

" I am sorrv, though," added Emily, " that Pitt's 
statue was mutilated." 

After some further discussion of this interesting- 
incident we were ready to proceed. 

" ISTear by, on iSTassau Street, is another interest- 
ing tablet," said our guide. " Let us pass through the 
arcade of yonder beautiful Equital>le Building and 
we'll reach our destination in a few minutes." 

We halted at Cedar Street, and glancing at the 
Mutual Life's great granite pile, easily found a let- 
tered bronze plate, which George read aloud. 







HERE STOOD 




THE 


JHDDLE DUTCH CHURCH 








DEDICATED A. D. 1729 




MADE 


A 


BRITISH MILITARY PRISON 1 
RESTORED 1790 


776 


OCCUPIED 


AS 


THE UNITED STATES POST 
1845-1875 
TAKEN DOWN 1883 


OFFICE 


THE 


MUTUAL LU'E INSURANCE CO 








OF NEW YORK. 





" A church, a prison, and a post ofhce! " repeated 
Emily. 

" More, too, I believe," said the professor. " I 
have read that here New York's first theater was 
located, and it is recorded that during the Revolu- 
tionary War the English officers used the church as a 
riding academy." 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 101 



'* Because it was a Dutch cliurcli? " asked 
George. 

" I don't know whether that influenced them. 
They probably thought it suited their purpose bet- 



f'f'i 







The old Post Office, originally thv Middle Dutch church. 
Reproduced from Valeutine's Manual for 1864. 

ter than any other place. The point is, as the inscrip- 
tion indicates, that ere the close of the year 1776, 
New York had fallen into the hands of the British." 



CHAPTER VI 

" Befoee wc go on," said the professor, when we 
met again, " I think it necessary to mention what 
happened shortly before independence was declared, 
so that we may fully understand the steps that led up 
to that important event. 

" The punishment of Boston began in June, 
1774. That interference with the rights of one 
colony frightened all the others, and a Continental 
Congress, as it was called, met in Philadelphia in 
September, 1774, and drew up a Declaration of 
Rights, addressed to the people of Great Britain, 
and a second statement addressed to the king. The 
first was written by John Jay, a young jSTew York 
lawyer. 

" When these papers arrived in England they 
caused a decided sensation. Pitt, the great states- 
man, said that in all his reading he had never seen 
better reasoning or fairer demands expressed in 
firmer or wiser language, and he warned Parlia- 
ment against trying to make slaves of men who 
thought and wrote in such a manner. But George 
and his ministers were obstinate and would not take 
warning. 

" On April 19, 1775, the king's soldiers fired on 
103 



A LANDxAlARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK lo3 

the farmers of Lexington and Concord; on June 
17th the battle of Bunker Hill was fought, and the 
English, though victorious, acknowledged that the 
Yankees could tight, and that they had won a very 
dear victory. 

" In the meantime the second Continental Con- 
gress, sitting at Philadelphia, had organized a Conti- 
nental army and appointed George Washington 
commander in chief. On June 25th Washington 
passed through Xew York. The place where the 
patriots gathered to receive him — now West Street, 
near Laight — is marked by a tablet with this inscrip- 
tion: 



TO MARK TIIK LANDING PLACE OF 

GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON 

JUNE 25, 1775, 

ON niS WAY TO CAMBRIDGE 

TO COMMAND 

THE AMERICAN ARMY. 



" On July 2d he reached Cambridge, where, 
under the famous old elm, he assumed command of 
the assembled troops. 

" Strange to say, on the same day that Washing- 
ton came to i^ew York, AVillinm 'I'ryon, the king's 
governor, also arrived, and wns received with becom- 
ing ceremonies. You can see from this what a con- 
fused state of affairs existed — a mixture of loyalty to 
the king and indignation at some of his tyrannical 
doings. In fact. Congress, after practically declar- 
ing war, still hoped to mend matters, and actually 



10-t A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

sent another petition to King George, bnt lie wonld 
not look at it. 

" In the meantime Washington was besieging 
General Howe in Boston, and, although the latter 
had a fine host of trained troops, they did not assert 
themselves against the Continentals, who were inex- 
perienced, poorly equipped, and at one time almost 
out of powder. At last, in March, 1776, after nine 
months of dillydallying, the British were forced to 
evacuate the town. 

" Washington now hastened to I^ew York, ex- 
pecting that this would be the next point of attack. 
Meanwhile a great battle of arguments had been 
going on in Congress; and, finally, on July 4, 1776, 
the motion that 'these United Colonies are and of 
rigid ought to he free and independent States ' was 
carried. 

" The arrival of Washington in New York, and 
the preparations for defending the city, caused a 
general outburst of excitement and fear among the 
people. It was still, you must remember, a little 
town of four thousand houses and twenty-five thou- 
sand inhabitants, confined to the lower end of the 
island, the rest consisting of county estates and a 
few widely separated villages. A redoubt was cast 
up at Turtle Bay, on the East River above Forty- 
fourth Street; a breastwork at Fifty-fourth Street; a 
battery on a bluif at Seventy-fourth Street; another 
at the foot of Eighty-fifth Street; and a strong one, 
known as Thompson's Battery, on a jutting promon- 
tory at the foot of Eighty-ninth Street, then called 
Horn's Hook, which commanded the Harlem River 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK I05 

and Hell Gate. A small work was also erected on 
Snake Hill, now Mount Morris, in the park of that 
name. In fact, the whole river front bristled with 
fortifications. A venerable Xew-Yorker, whom I 
nsed to meet occasionally," continued the professor, 
" often told me that he was in the habit of visiting 
these places and was able easily to trace the remains 
of the old works. 

" Back of Trinity there Avas a strong redoubt-, 
the fort, with six guns, and the Grand Batterj^, with 
twenty-three guns, protected the southern point of 
the island; other sections along the lower East River 
showed works and cannon, while Jones's Hill, near 
Broome Street, and Bunker Hill, on the Bayard 
Farm, where Grand and Mulberry Streets now cross, 
were crowned with powerful batteries. Barricades 
of logs, stones, boxes and barrels inclosed City Hall 
Park, stretched across Broadway opposite St. Paul's, 
covered the site of the present Tribune Building, and 
guarded other localities. Brooklyn Heights were 
also fortified, while Fort AVashington on this side, 
and Fort Lee opposite, guarded the Hudson. 

" With an anxious eye "Washington watched the 
bay. On June 25, 1776, he noticed the first signs 
of the foreign fleet, and by July 2d fully one hun- 
dred and thirty vessels of various kinds were gath- 
ered in the neighborhood of Sandy Hook. Ere long 
a landing was made, and the hillsides of Staten 
Island were presently dotted with white tents. 

" Here was a force of thirty-one thousand British 
and Hessian veterans, under Admiral Howe, his 
brother General Howe, and Generals Clinton, Corn- 



106 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 




wallis, and Percy — tlie best-officered and best- 
eqnipped force that Europe could furnish at that 
time. 

''Against these trained fighters whom had we? 
Some twenty thousand raw troops, connnanded by 

men who had seen but little 
service. AVasliington had 
taken part in some Indian 
skirmishes, but had never 
been at the head of a large 
body of men; Putnam — 
' Old Put,' as he was affec- 
tionately called — had seen 
about the same sort of war- 
fare; Knox, a youth of twen- 
ty-six, knew more al)out sell- 
^^ ing l:)ooks than handling a 

^?ip^<^^^^y^^^ brigade; Greene, but little 
older than Knox, was more 
at home near an iron forge than near a cannon. 
Charles Lee had seen service abroad, but, it is safe 
to say, he hindered Washington more than he helped 
him, while Sullivan and Alexander (or, to call the 
latter by his title, Lord Stirling) were both young 
and had much to learn of the business of war. 

" Those were anxious days in ISTew York, I can 
assure you," continued the professor earnestly, " and 
none had a more trying time than Washington and 
liis officers. There was constant watching, drilling, 
and preparing. One day General Greene, while 
crossing the Common on his way to Washington's 
headquarters, noticed a company of artillery, and 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 107 



was struck with its able performance, as well as the 
tact of its youthful commander, who was but twenty 
years old. Greene, quick to appreciate military tal- 
ent, spoke to the young num, saw in a moment that 
he was far above the ordinary, made a friend of him, 
and presently introduced him to Washington, The 
boy was Alexander Hamilton. 

" Washington's headquarters were about two 
miles out of town, at Richmond Hill, a line home- 
stead in Greenwich village. 
You remember the loca- 
tion of the village, no 
doubt?" 

" I know," said Tom, 
'' where the ships start for 
Europe." 

" General Howe never 
hurried matters, and so a 
month or more passed; but 
toward the end of August 
the British made a landing 
at Gravesend, Long Island. 
About two miles and a half 
in front of the American 

works on Brooklyn Heights there was a range 
of hills through which three passes led to our 
fortifications. As you can readily understand, the 
Americans sought to prevent the English from com- 
ing through these passes. Howe now i)ut into 
execution a clever plan. Keeping ])asses Ko. 1 and 
Xo. 2 busy, he undertook during the night of 
August 26tli a silent march in a roundabout way to 




V/2WC 



108 A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 

pass No. 3, wliieli was to his extreme riglit. Here, 
through somebody's blunder — no one knows to this 
day whom to bhime — only a handful of troops was 
on guard. The pass was quickly taken, and thus the 
English were able to get to the rear of the Ameri- 
cans at passes ISTos. 2 and 1. A signal gun announced 
to the British in front of these openings that Howe 
had turned the corner. Then the attack began in 
earnest, and the poor Continentals, many of whom 
had never been in battle before, were caught and 
slaughtered in as bad a trap as was ever laid. ' Good 
God! ' cried Washington, when he realized the sit- 
uation, 'what brave fellows I must this day lose!' 
Two thousand patriot soldiers were killed on tliat 
August 27th in the fatal battle of Long Island." 

" How^ many did the English lose?" asked Torn 
sadly. 

" Three hundred and eighty killed and wounded. 
Those of the Americans that were not captured or 
slain made their Avay as best they coidd back to the 
Heights, and, as you can readily imagine, they were 
a sad, dejected lot of men. 

" The night following the battle was a weary, 
gloomy, and sleepless time for the Americans on 
Brooklyn Heights. At four in the morning Wash- 
ington went the rounds to see that all was right, and 
to encourage, if possible, the dispirited soldiers. A 
dreary dawn showed large encampments of the ene- 
my, who at once began to cannonade the American 
works, but, fortunately, a downpour of rain soon in- 
terfered. The next day a dense fog wrapped every- 
thing in its veil of uncertainty. Washington now de- 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 109 

cided upon a bold move, namely, to transfer his nine 
thousand men with all their trai)pings over to New 
York. Boats were quietly but quickly gathered from 
all parts of the river, and toward evening the great 
work was begun. To deceive the enemy, sentinels 
were kept on guard as usual. Thus, in the dead of 
night, surrounded by danger and uncertainty, the en- 
campment melted away. Troops, artillery, ammu- 
nition, provisions, cattle, horses and carts, w^ere safely 
embarked, and then Washington entered a boat and 
crossed the river with the last." 

" When did the British discover the trick? " asked 
Tom, with lively interest. 

" Just too late," answered the professor. '' It 
was an extraordinary retreat, and was one of the 
most brilliant achievements of the war, adding 
greatly to the reputation of Washington, who for 
forty-eight hours scarcely closed an eye or left 
his saddle. It was a narrow escaj)e, too, I can tell 
you, and came very near being spoiled. A Tory 
farmer's wife, it seems, discovered what was going on, 
and sent her slave to inform the English. It so hap- 
pened that he fell into the hands of some Hessians, 
who, not being able to understand the negro, arrested 
him on suspicion, and held him long enough to let all 
the Yankees slip away." 

" Ha, ha, ha! " laughed the young jicople; " that 
was a good one." 

" Howe was now in control of Long Island and 
could easily have bombarded Xew York, l)ut he was 
inclined to be lazy. In the meantime, ' Old Put ' 
guarded the city — that is, the lower end of the 



110 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

island — his lieadqnarters being at tlie Kennedy 
House, No. 1 Broadway, while at the foot of Grand 
Street, Twenty-third Street, Kip's Bay (Thirty- 
fourth Street), and along the llarlem, brigades were 
stationed. About the lOtli of Septend>er, Washing- 
ton moved his headquarters to the Morris mansion at 
One Hundred and Sixty-first Street, east of St. Xich- 
olas Avenue. Day after day passed, and still no 
attack. Finally, on Sunday, September 15th, two 
divisions — one British, under Clinton, the other Hes- 
sian, under Donop — crossed the river and ap- 
proached Kip's Bay. The sight of the redcoats and 
remembrances of the recent defeat unnerved the 
Americans, who, as soon as the English began to land, 
became panic-stricken and fled. At this moment 
Washington dashed in among the fugitives, who had 
reached the neighborhood of Park Avenue and For- 
tieth Street, and tried to rally them, Init all in vain. 
Angered beyond endurance, he exclaimed, ' Are 
these the men with whom I am to defend America? ' 
and whipping out his pistols, snapped them at some 
of the terror-stricken soldiers. He was so heedless 
of his own danger that, had not an aide-de-camp 
seized the bridle of his horse, he might have fallen 
into the hands of the enemy." 

"Dear me! " said Emily, "I did not know that 
Washington ever lost his temper." 

" Certainly he did," answered the professor; 
" but only on rare occasions, and under extraordinary 
provocation. He quickly regained his self-control, 
however, and immediately took measures to meet the 
general peril. In all haste he sent word to Putnam, 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK m 

and dispatched a messenger to Harlem to warn the 
forces there against a landing of the British in that 
section. 

" Pntnam was in a very dangerous position, and 
had the English moved quickly they might have 
caught him; but Howe, who was very fond of the 
good things of life, stopped a while at Inclenberg, 
now Murray Hill. Mrs. Murray, mother of the 
grammarian, Lindley Murray, a devoted patriot, 
entertained her visitors so well, and gave them 
so much wine and other refreshments, that they 
lingered, teased her about the way the Yankees had 
run, and thus gave ' Old Put ' a chance to escape." 

" Hurrah for Mrs. Murray! " shouted Tom. 

" Meanwhile, Putnam's men, followed by a band 
of women and children, were struggling along toward 
Harlem. It was a hot, sweltering day, and they suf- 
fered terribly. Alexander Hamilton gallantly led 
on his company, while a young major — none other 
than Aaron Burr — acted as guide, riding back and 
forth, encouraging the soldiers, skillfully conducting 
them through woods and bypaths, and at last bring- 
ing them safely, toward evening, to Harlem Heights, 
where they were enthusiastically welcomed by the 
troops who had given them up as lost. Burr's ex- 
traordinary efforts during this march probably saved 
the entire retreating corps. 

" Washington, as I need hardly tell you, w\as also 
on hand to lend assistance. His meeting with Put- 
nam on this occasion has been comimemorated by the 
Sons of the Revolution in the form of a tablet, which 
you can see on the west side of Broadwav between 
9 



112 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



Forty-third and Forty-fourth Streets. It bears this 
inscription : 



GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON 

AND 

GENERAL ISRAEL PUTNAM 

MET NEAR THIS SPOT DURING 

THE MOVEMENT OF THE 

AMERICAN ARMY 

SEPTEMBER 15, 1776 

THE DAY BEFORE THE 

BATTLE OF HARLEM. 



" Suppose we mount our wheels," suggested the 
professor at this point, " and visit some of the his- 
toric ph^ces that figured in the jieriod we are now 
considering? " 

The proposal was received with great favor, and 
presently we were speeding along the smooth roads 
of Central Park toward ]\[ount St. Vincent. 

" In Revolutionary times," said our guide, dis- 
mounting at the foot of the hill, " this was a very 
rough and rocky section, through which ran a road 
called McGowan's Pass, after Daniel McGowan, who 
owned a farm near by. The pass was an important 
avenue to Harlem. Here, on the memorable 15tli of 
September, so the story goes, the last of the tired 
stragglers passed, and scarcely were they out of sight 
when a party of showily-uniformed British horsemen 
rode up, followed by a long line of troops, and de- 
manded of a lad who happened to be there if he knew 
in which direction the rebels had gone. The lad was 
Andrew McGowan, a faithful little patriot, who had 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 113 

no intention of helping the enemy. Pressed into 
service, he guided the hated redcoats along a road 
that led them away from the weary Americans, and 
after taking them over a long roundabout path, he 
managed to slip away and get back to his home. In 
spite of this clever ruse the English met a few of the 
retreating patriots and a skirmish took place, in 
which one American was killed. 

" The works in this vicinity were without delay 
occupied and strengthened by the British, and be- 
came a portion of their line of defense for the upper 
portion of the island. Again, in the AVar of 1812, as 
we shall see later, the high ground in this section 
bristled w^ith the cannons of forts and Idockhouses." 

"Why was the hill we just left called Mount 
St. Vincent? " asked George. 

" At one time St. Vincent's C^onvent was located 
there. Subsequently it w^as used as a soldiers' 
home." 

Leaving the site once known as McGowan's Pass, 
we wheeled over to Claremont Hill, and here the pro- 
fessor described to us the battle of Harlem Heights. 

" On the evening of September 15, 1770," said 
he, " the British forces extended in a diagonal line 
from the Beekman House, a fine mansion at Fifty- 
first Street near the East River, where General 
Howe had his headquarters, to the Apthorpe House, 
another colonial homestead, at Ninety-first Street 
and Tenth Avenue, where Clinton and Cornwallis 
were stationed. Across this valley, just below us, 
known as The Hollow^ Way, on Bloomingdale 
Heights yonder, the Americans were intrenched. 



114 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

" Washington was anxious to know what the 
British intended to do, and, in order to find out, se- 
lected C\:)h3nel Thomas Knowlton, of Connecticut, a 
galhint and active young leader, who had organized 
a small band of Rangers. At daybreak, on the 16th, 
Knowlton and his men made their way through the 
woods and approached the English pickets at One 
Hundred and Fourth Street and the Boulevard, then 
called the Bloomingdale Road. An alarm was 
given, and two or three British companies hurried 
forward and began firing. Knowlton made up his 
mind that there would be no running away on this 
occasion, and called on his men to stand their ground 
and show their mettle. 

" For half an hour a brisk action took place. A 
thousand shots were fired, several soldiers fell, and 
then, the enemy having been strengthened, an order- 
ly retreat was executed by Knowlton's men. The 
English followed and occupied this hill near Grant's 
Tomb, whereupon one of their buglers sounded the 
notes of the fox chase, a contemptuous signal of 
triumph that was distinctly heard in the American 
camp. 

" Washington then planned a little surprise for 
the exultant bugle blowers. A body of volunteers 
was sent forward into The Hollow Way to tempt the 
British down the hill, while about two hundred 
men under Knowlton and a brave Virginian, Major 
Andrew Leitch, were ordered to make a circuit and 
catch the enemy in the rear. The English rushed 
down the hill, as they were expected to do, the Ameri- 
cans keeping them busy, and actually driving them 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 115 

back, so that tlie second detacliment, appearing sud- 
denly on some rocks at One Hundred and Twenty- 
third Street and tlie Boulevard, struck the enemy's 
flank instead of his rear. Knowlton and Leitcli at the 
head of their men plunged forward and made a fierce 
attack. Almost at once Leitcli sank, hit by three 
bullets. A minute or two later Knowlton was mor- 
tally wounded. He fell like a hero, saying, ^ I do 
not value my life if we but get the day.' An hour 
afterward he died, and two weeks later Leitch 
breathed his last. 

" In spite of the loss of their leaders, the patriots 
fought bravely on. The English were behind a 
country fence, but they were forced to retreat, and 
next took their stand in a buckwheat field at One 
Hundred and Twentieth Street, now forming a part 
of the ground west of Columbia University. Here 
the main fight occurred, and it was a fierce battle, I 
can tell you. Xo flinching — no running away this 
time, riie ' rebels ' fought with plnck and deter- 
mination, and again — tliree times in all — forced the 
proud redcoats back, until they were not far from 
the spot where poor Knowlton had surprised them 
in the morning. In fact, so enthusiastic were the 
Americans that with groat dithcnlty were they kept 
from pursuing the British still farther. 

" Suidi was the battle of Harlem Heights — not 
a great conflict, but a brilliant little action that put 
refreshing hope into the hearts of the Americans 
and filled the British with a keen sense of mortifica- 
tion." 

George and Tom scanned the historic ground 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK Hf 

around them, as if they were fighting the battle over 
again, while Emily sadly thought of the brave 
heroes that had given up their lives on this battle- 
field. 

" Xothing of importance occurred during the 
next four days, but on the night of September 21st, 
the troops looking toward the south from their quar- 
ters on Harlem Heights, beheld a great spreading red 
glare in the skies over the city that made them 
wonder. The whole town seemed to be in flames. 
The fact was that fire had broken out in a frame house 
near Whitehall Street, and, fanned by the wind, had 
swejit northeastward across the island, destroying- 
Trinity, and consuming four hundred and ninety- 
three out of four thousand dwellings. The blame 
was thrown on tlie ' rebels,' and two hundred arrests 
were made, but no ]n-oof was found against a single 
individual. It is said, however, that while the fire 
raged many patriotic citizens were cruelly thrust into 
the flames by the angry soldiers. Two years later, in 
1778, a second fire burned fifty houses more in the 
neighborhood of Coenties Slip. 

"The great fire of September 21st was bad 
enough, but an event occurred the next day, Sunday, 
that left a deeper gloom behind it. In the neigh- 
borhood of what is now Third Avenue and Sixty- 
third Street, Nathan Hale, the martyr-spy, died an 
ignominous death for the sake of his country. 
Whenever I think of this In-ave youth I feel a sense 
of great grief. Tlie news of Lexington awoke his 
patriotic spirit. He was then a tall, handsome young 
school-teacher of twenty, A short time before he 



118 A LANDMARK HtSTORY OP NEW YORK 

had graduated at Yale, where he had been a bright 
student, a fine athlete, an amiable comrade. He 
was among the first to enlist, and in the course of time 
he received his commission of captain. The doubt, 
despair, and anxiety that followed the battle of Long- 
Island depressed the whole armv, and greatly wor- 
ried Washington. He was anxious to know what 
Howe's next move would be, but to find out it was 
necessary to employ a spy. A volunteer was asked 
for, but none came forward. The officers were 
ready to fight, they said, but not to go among the 
enemy and be hanged like a dog. Hale took a differ- 
ent view of the matter: any service necessary for 
the general good he regarded as honorable. He 
went, was captured, brought before Howe, and con- 
demned to be hanged. Short was the time given him 
to prepare for death, and to add to his misery a brute 
named Cunningham watched over him. Hale asked 
for a Biltle, and was laughed at; he wrote letters to 
his dear ones, including a fair young girl to whom he 
was engaged, and they were torn up before his face. 
"When he was led out to be executed his savage jailer 
jeered at him, saying that this was a fine death for a 
soldier. ' I only regret that I have but one life to 
lose for my country,' was his noble answer." 

The boys were silent, and Emily's eyes were 
moist. 

" The Sons of the Revolution,'' continued the 
professor, " have lately honored Xathan Hale by 
placing a beautiful statue in City Hall Park. I al- 
ways stop before it and look reverently at that calm, 
young, heroic face. Xo shout of victory rang in the 




statue of Nathan Hale iu City Hall Park. 



120 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

martyr's ears when he expired; he died the death 
of a spj, but to my mind he was a hero, and deserves 
a hero's place on the nation's roll of honor." 

^' Surely he does," said Emily. 

" Here's a sentiment," said the professor, refer- 
ring to his little memorandum book, "' with which I 
think you will agree : 

"'Forgotten? Xe"er wliile Freedom's stars 
Shine forth in deathless liglit 
From out the flag he loved so well, 
For which he struggled, fought, and fell. 
His guerdon was the soldier's scars, 
And death, far from his native vale — 
Brave heart that beat for love and right, 
Brave soldier, Natlian Hale! '" 

" Isn't there a tablet somewhere in honor of 
Knowlton and Leitch?" asked George. 

" Yes, on yonder building," said the professor, 
pointing toward the Columbia University grounds. 

We now mounted our wheels, rode past Grant's 
Tomb, which we had all visited previously, and going 
eastward through One Hundred and Twentieth Street 
to the Boulevard, stopped at the Engineering Build- 
ing, in front of the beautiful bronze memorial near 
the entrance. 

'' There's ])0or Loitch," said the professor, point- 
ing to the fallen major. '' See, his face shows 
the pain of coming death. And there is brave 
Knowlton, sword in hand, leading on his patriotic 
followers, while that stolid creature opposite him is 
one of those paid Hessians avIio, for a few dollars, 
came over here to fight a people who had never 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 121 

injured them; wlioni, indeed, tliey did not even 
know." 

" LTgli! " grunted Tom contemptuously. 










Tablet to commemorate the battle of Harlem Heights, Columbia 
University. Photographed 1900. 

"All along here there was fighting." eontinucd 
the professor, pointing to the Boulevard; " and over 
there where you see that open space to the south of 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 123 

Barnard College was the famous buckwheat field 
where the main battle took place." 

Entering the college grounds we seemed to feel 
the " learned atmosphere " of our surroundings, and, 
pausing on the terrace before the impressive Library 
Building, George read the great inscription over the 
columned entrance, which is as follows: 



KING S COLLEGE FOUNDED IN THE PROVINCE OF NEW YORK 

BY ROYAL CHARTER IN THE RERiN OF GEORGE II. 

PERPETUATED AS COLUMBIA COLLEGE 

BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

WHEN THEY BECAME FREE AND INDEPENDENT. 

MAINTAINED AND CHERISHED FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION 

FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF PUBLIC GOOD AND 

THE GLORY OF ALMIGHTY GOD. 



CHAPTER YII 

Leaving the grounds at One Hundred and Twen- 
tieth Street and Amsterdam Avenue, we rode over to 
the Pomt of Rocks at One Hundred and Twenty- 
seventh Street and Convent Avenue, from which 
elevation Washington and his generals watched the 
fight on September 16tli. Following the smooth 
path that leads around the Convent of the Sacred 
Heart, we then wheeled north as far as One Hundred 
and Thirty-fifth Street, and going east one block to 
Hamilton Terrace, had a fine view of modern Har- 
lem, which lay below us. 

" We seem to be making as many discoveries up 
town as we did down town," remarked George, ad- 
miring the scene at our feet. 

"Yes, indeed," assented Emily; "I had no idea 
there was so much of New York that I did not 
know." 

" There is more ahead of us," remarked the pro- 
fessor, turning again in the direction of Convent 
Avenue. Just beyond One Hundred and Forty-first 
Street he stopped and pointed out Hamilton Grange, 
now used as a school. 

" All this section from One Hundred and Thirty- 
eighth to One Hundred and Forty-fifth Street was 
124 



126 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

owned by Alexander Hamilton. He built the house 
in 1802, and named it ' The Grange/ in honor of his 
uncle's seat in Scotland. It was a grand homestead 
in its day, almost square, sixty feet in width, with a 
broad piazza around it. The view in all directions 
must have been fine. Just across the avenue over 




The Grange, as it appeared in Jlamiltoti's time. From an old print. 

yonder, near One Hundred and Forty-third Street, 
are the famous thirteen trees, representing the thir- 
teen original States. For a time relic hunters threat- 
ened their destruction, but now, as you see, they are 
fenced in. Recently they became the property of a 
private citizen, who may some day place a bust of 
Hamilton within the inclosure, and thus add to the 
interest of this historic spot." 

We lingered here for some time, the boys ex- 
pressing a strong desire to settle down in the neigh- 
borhood, but at length the professor led us away, 
our next stopping place being the police station at 




The thirteen trees planted by Alexander Hamilton at One Hundred 
and Forty-third Street, east of Amsterdam Avenue. From a 
recent photograph. 
10 



128 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

One Hundred and Fifty-second Street and Amster- 
dam Avenue, where, leaning up against the building 
in a neglectful sort of way, is an old stone bearing 
the date 17G9, and the inscription " Xine miles to 
New York." 

Going west, we presently reached Trinity Ceme- 
tery, which extends from One Hundred and Fifty- 
third to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Street, and 
from Amsterdam Avenue to the ISTorth River. Be- 
fore entering, we paused before a bronze tablet im- 
bedded in the wall on One Hundred and Fifty-third 
Street, wdiich contains this legend: 



IN HONOR OF 

COLONEL THOMAS KNOWLTON 

AND MAJOR ANDREW LEYTCH* 

OF THE 

AMERICAN ARMY 

KILLED SEPT. 16. 1776, 

AT THE 

BATTLE OF HARLEM. 

ERECTED BY THE SONS OF THE REVOLUTION. 



"Why was this tablet placed away up here?" 
asked George. 

" Because, at one time it was thought the battle 
was fought in this neighborhood." 

Within the beautifully kept cemetery w^e found 
much to interest us. Here was the tall monu- 
ment, containing carved images of birds, erected in 

* Tlie name is jyenerally spelled Leitch. A new tablet is 
soon to be substituted. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 129 



honor of the world-renowned ornithologist, Andubon. 
Here, too, were the tombs of Philip Livingston, signer 
of the Declaration of Independence; Stephen Ju- 
mel, John Jacob Astor, General Dix, and the ceno- 
taph of President Monroe. The last named died in 
this city Jnly 4, 1831, at the honse of his daughter 
in Prince Street, east of Broadway. Twenty-seven 
years later the State of Virginia claimed the remains 
of her illnstrions son, and 
under military escort they 
were transferred to Rich- 
mond. 

Before leaving this 
section we wended our 
way through the quiet 
paths of Audubon Park, 
extending from One Hun- 
dred and Fifty-fifth to 
One Hundred and Fifty- 
eighth Street along the 
Hudson. Here, in the 
southwest corner of the 

park, we saw the home of Audubon, and, close by, a 
Revolutionary redoubt, near which is a group of 
handsome houses and well-kept grounds, whose owners 
have never found it necessary to build fences or erect 
barriers of any kind against their neighbors. 

Our next stopping place was at One Hundred 
and Sixty-first Street, just east of St. jSTicholas 
Avenue, where, inclosed in a fine garden, we beheld 
a well-preserved and picturesque colonial mansion 
standing aloof from its modern surroundings. 




130 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

" This," said the i:)rofessor, " is one of the most 
interesting houses on Manliattan Ishmd. It was 
erected in 1758 by Roger Morris, husband of Mary 
Philipse, a highly educated and very beautiful lady, 
who belonged to the well-known Philipse family. A 
few years before, Washington, while in jSTew York, 
had met Miss Mary, and, so the story goes, fallen in 
love with her. It is even said that he proposed to 
her and was refused, but this fact has never been es- 
tablished. Duty soon called "Washington away to 
Fort Duquesne, giving Captain Morris, who had been 
Washington's fellow aid-de-camp under Braddock, 
an opportunity to woo and win the fair lady. Mor- 
ris became a royalist, and in 1776 his estate was for- 
feited. That same year Washington used the house 
as his headquarters, and later the Hessian general, 
Knyphausen, occupied it. After the Revolution, 
under its hospitable roof, Washington, John Adams, 
John Quincy Adams, Thomas Jefferson, General 
Knox, Alexander Hamilton, and other distinguished 
men and their wives were entertained. In 1810 it 
became the property of Stephen Jumel, a wealthy 
man, who had married a charming and l;)rilliant 
young lady from Rhode Island. Then it numbered 
among its guests Louis Philippe, Lafayette, Talley- 
rand, Joseph Bonaparte, and Louis i^apoleon. 
After a while the Jumels went to France and, re- 
turning some years later, brought with them eight 
chairs that had l)elongcd to the great iSTapoleon, a 
table ]irocured l)y ISTapoleon in Egypt, a clock from 
the Tuileries, and many other historically interesting 
and valuable furnishings. 



132 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

" Just below here," continued the professor, " at 
One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Street, you will notice 
a remarkable semicircle of fine, tall cypress trees. 
Ere the cutting through of streets was begun the 
circle was complete, and a little lake occupied the 
center. The trees, it is said, were brought from 
Egypt by Napoleon and presented to Jumel, who 
transferred them to his estate and planted them in 
the unique manner I have described to you. 

" After Jumel's death his widow continued to live 
here. One day she surprised her friends by marry- 
ing Aaron Burr, the latter then being a very old 
man. For a time thereafter it was called the Burr 
Mansion^not for long, however, as the pair soon sepa- 
rated. Then John Jacob Astor became its owner, 
and here, tradition says, his secretary and friend, 
Fitz-Greene Halleck, wrote the immortal poem 
' Marco Bozzaris.' At present the house belongs 
to General Earle, and is known as Earle Cliff." 

During its long existence, and in spite of changes 
of ownership, the venerable residence has remained a 
landmark of colonial days. Some modern features have 
been added, Init the original character of its early ar- 
chitecture prevails. There is a spell about the place 
that readily touches the imagination and brings to mind 
notable figures and interesting scenes of the past. 

" Before we leave this historic spot," suggested 
the professor, " let us examine the fine tablet that 
adorns the old mansion." 

To the right of the doorw^ay, with its mullioned 
side-lights and elliptical transom of colonial fash- 
ion, we found a profile bust of Washington, 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 133 

wreathed with sprays of myrtle and hiurel, and 
beneath it a phate with this inscription: 



WASHINGTON'S HEADQUARTERS. 

THIS TABLET IS DEDICATED BY THE 

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS CHAPTER 

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 

TO THE MEMORY OF 

GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON. 

WHO OCCUPIED THIS MANSION AS HIS HEADCJUARTERS 

FROM SEPTEMBER 16th TO OCTOBER 21ST, 1776. 

BATTLE OF HARLEM HEIGHTS, SEPTEMBER, 16th. 

COUNCILS OF WAR. 

PRESIDENT WASHINGTON VISITED THIS MANSION 

ACCOMPANIED BY HIS CABINET, JULY, 1790. 

MORRIS HOUSE, 1758. | JUMEL MANSION, 1810. 

EARLE CLIFF, lOTO. 



Again we nionntcd onr wheels and pushed north- 
ward along St. Nicholas Avcnne, Emily calling onr 
attention to the fact that we were now " ont in the 
conntry," as she called it. In trnth, there was little 
to remind ns of the fact that we were but a few miles 
away from the noise and rush of the city proper. 
Going down Depot Lane and north to Bennett Lane, 
we found, after some little investigation, the old, 
original Fort Washington, now a neglected embank- 
ment guarded by silent sentinels in the shape of 
trees. Tw^o of the five corners of the bastioned 
earthwork can still be seen. 

" This was the last stronghold," said the pro- 
fessor, " held by the Americans on j\laidiattan Island, 
the main army having been withdrawn to West- 



134 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

Chester. Directly across the river from tliis spot 
were Fort Lee and Fort Constitution, and tliere Gen- 
eral Greene was in charge. On the 13th of Novem- 
ber, 1776, Washington visited these forts and had 
a conference with Greene. The former wanted to 
evacuate Fort Washington, believing that it was difh- 
cult to hold, and under the circumstances not im- 
portant, but unfortunately he was persuaded to the 
contrary. 

" Colonel Magaw was in command here, and had 
with him about two thousand men, many of whom 
were in outworks on the hills that surround us. On 
the 16th of November the British moved forward in 
four divisions, all of which were ordered to attack at 
the same time. The Americans made a gallant de- 
fense, but one by one the hills were taken by the 
superior numbers of the enemy, and at length the 
patriots were forced back to the fort. While this 
was going on, Washington was anxiously watching 
through a telescope the movements of one of the 
American divisions. He saw the men make a deter- 
mined . stand, but presently their line broke, and, 
being outnumbered, they slowly retreated. Then 
the Hessians rushed upon them, cut them down, and, 
like brutal beasts, bayoneted the wounded soldiers, 
though they begged for quarter. So completely was 
Washington overcome by the sight that, it is said, 
he wept with the tenderness of a child. 

" The fort was now at the mercy of the enemy, 
and Magaw, realizing that it was useless to hold out, 
surrendered. Thus, Manhattan Island yielded up its 
last stronghold to the British, and the brave defend- 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 135 

ers were made prisoners of war and treated with 
fearful cruelty." 

The professor's story cast a gloom over our little 
party, and we were glad to turn away and follow him 
along a path that after a while brought us to Fort 
George. Here the fine view of the river, valley, 
and hills changed our mood to one of keen pleasure. 
Below us the old King's Bridge Road followed its 
winding course, and beyond a stone castle tipped the 
crown of a hill. Our guide informed us that one of 
the outposts, afterward called by the British, Fort 
Tryon, occupied the opposite heights we were admir- 
ing, and showed us, a little to the south, the site of 
an old redoubt. Wo found here, also, in the res- 
taurant, a case containing cannon balls and other 
Revolutionary relics that had been dug up in the 
neighborhood. 

" With the capture of Fort Washington," said 
the professor, resuming his story, " the entire island 
passed into the hands of the British, and the city 
became a military post, Howe having his head- 
quarters at the commodious Kennedy House. Roy- 
alist families soon began to drift in from all direc- 
tions, the king's party was triumphant, and the pa- 
triots apparently had been swept out of existence. 
There was one powerful reminder in the town, how- 
ever, of the great fight for liberty, in the shape of 
some five thousand prisoners of war, captured on 
Long Island and at Fort Washington. These unfor- 
tunates were intrusted to Cunningham, the brutal 
provost marshal, who had so cruelly tormented 
Nathan Hale during his last hours. 



136 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



" Cunningham had his office in the ISTew Jail, now 
the Hall of lleeords. Here many officers, including 
Ethan Allen, of Ticonderoga fame, were confined, 
and so closely were they packed that when their 
bones ached at night from lying on the hard planks 
and they wished to turn, it could only be done by 
word of command, ' Right ' or ' Left,' whereupon 
they all changed their j^ositions. Not content with 
allowing his helpless prisoners slowly to starve and 
freeze to death, this fiend Cunningham is said to have 
poisoned many and to have continued drawing their 




Khinclaiulcr sugar house used as a prison during the Eevolutiouary 
War. From an okl print. 

rations, which he sold. He is reported to have 
boasted that he had thus killed more of the ' rebels ' 
than had been slain by all the king's forces. 

"Nearly every public l)uilding was turned into 
a prison, and all the big sugar houses were filled with 
suffering soldiers. Cold, hunger, foul air, putrid 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 137 

water, and disease quickly thinned tlieir ranlvs. 
Every morning the dead-carts came to carry away the 
corpses and throw them into trenches, where no sign 
of identification marked their neglected graves. 

" More awful still were the prison ships — foul, 
neglected hulks, where men were crowded worse than 
we would house the lowest beasts. The Jersey, an- 
chored in the neighborhood of the Brooklyn Navy 
Yard, was the most famous or rather infamous of 
these floating dungeons. I can not describe to you 
the ghastly scene of filth, rags, and pestilence that 
characterized the Jersey, or tell you the sufl'erings of 
those poor, wan patriots who were once strong, hale, 
and happy men. Pliilip Freneau, the poet of the 
Revolution, has left l)ehind a story of the prison ships 
in verse, of which I will read you a few lines: 

"'Here doom'd to starve, like famislieil dnos ^ve tore 
The scant allowance that our tyrants jjorc 

Three hundred wretches here deny'd all li.i;ht, 
In crowded mansions pass th' infernal ni<;lit. 
Some for a bed tlieir tattered vestments join, 
And some on chests and some on floors recline; 
Shut from the blessings of the evening air, 
Pensive we lay with mingled corpses there; 
Meager and wan, and scorch'd with heat below, 
We looked like ghosts ere death had made us so.' 

" Every morning the prisoners were awakened 
with the cry, ' Behels, turn out your dead ! ^ These 
sufferers, relieved from misery, were ha^^tily thrown 
into a pit near the shore, where the washing of the 
next tide often uncovered their bodies. 

" Heaven alone knows the suffering, the hard- 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 139 

ships, and sacrifices of the patriots that fought for the 
independence we enjoj. They are all worthy of our 
unceasing reverence, and none more so than the tor- 
tured wretches in ]Kew York's sugar houses and 
prison slii})s. It is said that their fearful treatment 
was a deliberate plan to make them desert the 
' rebel ' cause and join the forces of the king, tempt- 
ing promises being held out to them. If so, the 
scheme failed, for almost to a man they resisted all 
attempts to win them from the cause of patriotism. 
But a day of reckoning came for Cunniugham. 
Some years after the war he was convicted of for- 
gery in London and executed. 

" While the poor prisoners thus suffered, the 
king's officers found amusement in acting farces at 
a theater in xV^assau Street, in attending bull fights, 
playing tennis, and in riotous living at the taverns. 
They also wantonly destroyed a library that had been 
established iu the City Hall, by takiug away valuable 
books, a knapsack load at a time, and selliug them 
for liquor. This library had been founded in 1700, 
and comprised many interesting volumes. In 1788 
it was reorganized under its old name of The ISTew 
York Society Library, and it is in existence to-day, 
its building being in L^nivcrsity Place near Twelfth 
Street. It owns extensive files of old newspapers and 
many important historical and biogra])liical works. 

" For seven loug years the war dragged on, the 
patriot ' Continentals in their ragged regimentals ' 
fighting the enemy, as well as the l)iting winds of win- 
ter and the gnawing pangs of hunger. At last, in the 
spring of 1783, the struggle came to an end, and the 



140 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

glad tidings of peace and trinmpli spread tlirongh. the 
colonies. On the 19tli of April, exactly eight years 
after the hattle of Lexington, the news was officially 
published. 

" The British lingered on for some months, and 
not nntil November were they ready to evacuate 
ISTew York. On the 19th Washington arrived at 
Day's Tavern, corner of One Hundred and Twenty- 
fifth Street and Eighth Avenue. The troops, con- 
sisting of some eight hundred bronzed veterans in 
new blue coats, white vests and breeches, took up 
their station at McGowan's Pass, whence some of 
them perhaps had fled on that IStli of September 
when the British had rushed forward, driving the 
Americans before them. Four trophies, in the shape 
of six-pounders taken from the enemy, and engraved 
with the time and place of their capture, bore evi- 
dence of the changed state of afl:airs. 

" Every day, it was thought, the English would 
depart, ])ut not until the 25th of JSTovembcr did they 
take their much-desired leave, accompanied by hosts 
of royalist ISTew- Yorkers, who were afraid to face 
their triumphant countrymen. At eight o'clock the 
drums at McGowan's Pass sounded, the soldiers fell 
into line, General Knox at the head, and with happy 
hearts marched down the old Post Road in the crisp 
autumn air into the Bowery, where they halted. To 
the west, where Grand Street crosses Mulberry, was 
a strong redoubt known as Bunker Hill, and to the 
south stretched a line of works just vacated by the 
British. At one o'clock the troops formed again, 
and the procession into the town began. Down the 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 141 

Bowery, into Chatham and then into Queen (now 
Pearl) Street they marched, to the strains of merry 
music. I need not tell you that the people were out 
in force. Their clothes were perhaps a little shab- 
by, but powdered wigs, white rutHes, cocked hats, sil- 
ver buckles, and flowing silk dresses of varied hues 
are always attractive, even if somewhat worn. On- 
ward, through the double row of cheering citizens, 
came the veterans. Proud was their step and erect 
their forms. Presently they swung into AVall Street, 
passed the mutilated statue of Pitt, and marched up 
to Broadway, halting at Rector Street. 

" Two companies were now ordered to proceed to 
I'ort George at the Battery, where an interesting 
ceremony was to be performed. The last British 
boats had just left the strand, the fort was empty, 
but something was wrong." 

"I know!" exclaimed Tom; "the English flag 
was up on the flagstaff." 

" Yes; and some mean individual had greased the 
pole and cut the halyards. But Yankee ingenuity 
soon overcame a trifle like that. The English in tlie 
boats were grinning, but their looks quickly changed 
when they saw a sailor lad, John Van Arsdale, ham- 
mer cleats to the slippery ])ole, and in short order 
reach the top. Then the insolent royal flag came 
down, and the Stars and Stripes soon waved in its 
stead, never to be replaced by any other ensign. 
For many years, each Evacmition Day, John' Yan 
Arsdale was intrusted with the pleasant duty of rais- 
ing the flag at the Battery; then his son, and after 
him his grandson, enjoyed the privilege. 



142 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

" I liave some verses here," continued the pro- 
fessor, " that tell the story of Evacuation Day in spir- 
ited language. Let me read them to you: 

" ' Beat of drum and thrill of fife 

Down the Bowery lane; 
Tramp of troops, in exile long, 

Marching home again. 
Battle-seasoned soldiers these. 

In their buflf and blue; 
Victors in a wasteful war. 

Tried, triumphant, true. 
Heroes here of Harlem Heights, 

Sons of Liberty! 
Trusty troops that trapped Burgoyne, 

Sons of Victory! 
Veterans of Valley Forge, 

Warriors marked by fame; 
Guardians of the Neutral Ground, 

Worthy of the name. 
Beat of drum and waving flags 

Down the Bowery lane; 
All New York is out to shout, 

" Welcome home again ! " 

" ' Tramp of troops in buff and blue, 

Marching down Broadway; 
Down where but an hour before 

Redcoats ruled the day. 
Halting at the Battery's edge, 

Watching from the strand 
British hosts and Hessian hordes 

Slipping from the land. 
All is well — but no. a sound; 

Hark! a mocking laugh: 
Briton's flag is floating still 

From the Battery's staff. 
Halyards cut, a greasy pole — 

This the parting grace — 
Futile trick; swift Yankee limbs 

Reach the slippery place. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 143 

Down the lingering emblem drops, 

Vanishing from view. 
While a shout rings out to greet 

The red and white and blue.' 

" A few hours after the arrival of the soldiers a 
great civic procession followed. General Knox, 
leaving the troops, rode back to Bull's Head Tavern 
near Canal Street in the Bowery, later transformed 
into the Bowery Theater, and still a house of amuse- 
ment, where he met Washington, George Clinton, 
recently elected Governor of New York, and other 
important personages and citizens. This procession 
followed the route of the troops and was greeted with 
a new burst of enthusiasm. Then came addresses, 
and later a dinner at Fraunces's Tavern, given by 
Clinton, at which thirteen patriot toasts were pro- 
posed and heartily answered. On December 2d a 
great display of fireworks was arranged at Bowling 
Green, and on the 11th public thanksgiving services 
were held. 

" Thus Washington saw the glorious triumph of 
his long and sometimes ill-appreciated efforts. Glad, 
no doubt, was he at the success he had achieved, yet 
sad, too, he must have felt as he walked through the 
streets of K'ew York, once so gay, bright, and pros- 
perous in appearance, but now showing evidences 
everywhere of seven years of foreign occupation. 
The track of the great fire was still visible; canvas 
roofs covered the ruined buildings and gave to the 
charred district the name of Canvas Town. The 
shattered walls of Trinity marred Broadway; most 
of the churches, robbed of their pews and foul with 
11 



144 A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 

filth, were unfit for use; fine mansions were going 
to decay, wharves were deserted, warehouses were 
vacant, and the streets were silent. It was a city 
sorely wounded, but not bereft of life. 

*" Washington remained in Xew York but a few 
days. On December 4th he met the principal ofii- 
cers of the army in the ' Long Room ' at Fraunces's 
Tavern and said farewell to them. It was a touch- 
ing scene. lie parted from them as tenderly as if 
they were his brothers. Silently they followed their 
beloved chief as he left the room and passed through 
a double line of light infantry to Whitehall Ferry. 
Here he entered a barge, and, while he was being 
rowed away, stood up, took off his hat and waved a 
silent adieu to the sorrowing groujD that watched 
him go." 



CHAPTER VIII 

" With wars and honors overspread, 
Seven years, and more, we fought and bled. 
Seized British hosts and Hessian bands 
And all — to leave thee in their hands." 

" In these words/' said the professor, " the poet 
of the Revolution, writing- in 1783, grieved over the 
fate of New York. It took the town fully four 
years to get over the mischief done by the soldiers, 
hut then, having regained most of its lost resources, 
it went forward with a stride that astonished the rest 
of the country, including Philadelphia, at that time 
the largest city in the colonies. Xo one was more 
struck with the change than Washington when he 
returned in 1789 to be inaugurated President. 

" But I see," said the professor, " that I am run- 
ning a little ahead of my story. The peace of 1783 
did not bring with it either tranquillity or content- 
ment. The yoke of King George had been thrown 
off, it was true, but there was something wrong. 
There was a Colonial Congress, but it had no power 
and was not respected, while the colonies were 
neither friendly nor neighborly. Xew York, for in- 
stance, made Jersey farmers pay a tax on the vege- 
tables they brought into the State. 

" It was now felt that a stronger central Govern- 

145 



146 A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 

ment was necessary, and a convention met in Phila- 
delpliia in 1787 to consider the matter. The best 
men of the country were there, and they had a gigan- 
tic task before them — a battle of brains instead of 
a conflict of arms. One of the most conspicuous 
figures in that body of wise men was Alexander 
Hamilton of New York, then not yet thirty years old. 
He led the Federalists — that is, those who wanted a 
strong confederation. Opposed to them was the 
party that U2)held the rights of the individual States, 
and wanted to yield as little as possible to the nation- 
al Government. In other words, a big State like 
Xew York did not like the idea of being placed 
on the same level with a little State like Rhode 
Island. 

'^ As you can readily imagine, many other sug- 
gestions and plans met with opposition and caused 
long discussions — too long to be repeated here. The 
story of the framing of the Constitution is very in- 
teresting and instructive, and some day I trust you 
will read all about it in Bancroft's great history. 
This fact, however, I want to impress upon you at 
present, that jSTew York city played a great and hon- 
orable part in helping to establish the union of the 
States, and in this connection yon ought particularly 
to remember the names of Alexander Hamilton and 
John Jay. 

'^ Assisted by Madison, who afterward was elected 
President, they wrote and published a series of bril- 
liant letters, explaining all about the new Constitu- 
tion, which produced a profound effect. These let- 
ters, under the title of The Federalist, are now to be 




A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 147 

had in book fonn. I am sure you'll find it in your 
father's library." 

" Oh, yes, I have seen it," said George, " but I 
haven't read it." 

" N^ow, while Hamilton, Jay, and others were 
working to get the State Legis- 
lature, which was sitting at 
Poughkeepsie, to ado|)t the 
Constitution, the merchants 
and mechanics of Xew York 
city organized a grand pro- 
cession to help Hamilton, 
whom they regarded as their 
special champion. Almost 
every industry was represent- 
ed — the butchers, the bakers, 
and the candlestick makers. 
Each had a float, or an em- 
blem, or a motto. The sail- 
makers, to give you an example, had a stage drawn by 
four horses, bearing a flag, on which was painted a 
ship under full sail, called J^ew Constitution ; also a 
picture of Hamilton, and this motto : 

" ' Let steailincss our steps pursue, 
]May justice be our guide; 
The Federal plan we keep in view, 
We fall if we divide.' 

"But the most interesting and original feature 
of the procession was the Federal skip Hamilton, a 
frigate, twenty-seven feet long, fully rigged, carry- 
ing thirty-two guns, manned by thirty mariners, and 
mounted on a truck drawn by ten horses. As the 



J^^/T/fiJay 



148 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

procession moved tlirongli the principal streets, sa- 
lutes were fired and the sails changed as if the vessel 
were afloat. Later in the day a great banquet was 
held, during which thirteen toasts were proposed, the 
first being ' The United States ' ; the fourth, ' Gen- 
eral Washington '; and the last, ' The Day; may the 
Union of the States be Perpetual ! ' 

'' This took place on the 23d of July, 1Y88. 
Three days later the glad news was received that the 
Legislature had adopted the Constitution, iSTew York 
being the tenth State to join the Union." 

" It ought to have been the first," remarked Tom. 

"No doubt," said the professor; "but the fact 
of being slow did not mean lack of enthusiasm after- 
ward. This was j^roved when, in April, 1789, Wash- 
ington having been chosen President, Isew York, as 
capital of the new federation, prepared to welcome 
the great patriot who was ' first in peace as well as 
first in war.' " 

" And first in the hearts of his countrymen," 
added Tom. 

" Washington's journey from Mount Vernon was 
one continuous ovation. At Elizabethtown Point, 
in ITew Jersey, a committee of both Houses of Con- 
gress and many public officials met him. Here he 
embarked in a splendid barge built for the occasion, 
manned by thirteen pilots in white uniforms. Other 
barges, beautifully decorated, followed, and, accom- 
panied by music, this remarkable flotilla moved up 
the broad and beautiful bay of I^ew York. The 
barge landed at Murray's Wharf, and here, amid the 
ringing of bells, the roaring of cannon, and the shout- 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 149 

ing of the people, Washington stepped ashore, where 
he was welcomed bj his old friends, Governor Clin- 
ton, General Knox, and other comrades of the Revo- 
lutionary War. 

" Carpets had been spread to a carriage, but 
Washington preferred to walk. I need hardly tell 




Washington's house in Cherry Street. From an old print. 

you that the streets were decorated. All sorts of 
flags, silken banners, and garlands of flowers bearing 
his name were everywhere to be seen. Washington 
bowed every few steps, and of course took off his hat 
to the ladies, many of whom shed tears of enthusi- 
asm as they w^aved their handkerchiefs and threw 
flowers. At 'No. 1 Cherry Street, corner of Pearl, 
where now one of the piers of the Brooklyn Bridge 



150 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

rests, he paused and entered the house that had been 
prepared for hmi." 

" Was it a line house '^ " asked Emily. 

" Oh, yes, and a fine neighborliood, but rather far 
up town, as the inhabitants then tliougiit. 

" People came from all directions to see the in- 
auguration ceremonies, and the little city was soon 
overcrowded, every public-house, boarding-house, 
and private dwelling being more than filled with 
guests. Some, it is said, slept in tents. The taverns 
were jammed to their utmost capacity, and each had 
a special song of welcome of its own. Here is a verse 
from one of the rhymed greetings : 

" ' Thrice welcome to this shore, 
Our leader now no more, 

But ruler thou. 
truly good and great. 
Long live to glad our State, 
Where countless honors wait 

To deck thy brow! ' 

" A short delay occurred, but on the oOtli of 
April all was ready, and the inauguration took place. 
At nine o'clock there were religious services in all 
the churches; at twelve the city troops paraded be- 
fore Washington's door, and, soon after, the commit- 
tee of Congress and the heads of departments came 
in carriages. A half hour later Washington entered 
the coach of state, and then the procession, the for- 
eign ministers, and a long train of citizens bringing 
up the rear, moved on toward the City Hall in Wall 
Street. Federal Hall, as it was then called, had 
been considerably enlarged and improved, so as to 



152 A LAXUMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

serve the needs of the Senate and the House of Rep- 
resentatives. 

" A large crowd of citizens had gathered, occupy- 
ing the street, windows, and even the roofs of near- 
by houses, and all eyes were directed to the balcony 
in front of the Senate chambers. One of the most 
interested spectators was Alexander Hamilton, who 
looked on from his residence opposite, at the corner 
of Wall and Broad Streets. 

" Just before the oath was to be administered it 
was discovered that there was no Bible in Federal 
Hall. Fortunately, the chancellor, Bobert B. Liv- 
ingston " 

" AVas he the same that had helped prepare the 
Declaration of Independence? " interrupted George. 

" Yes. Fortunately, as I have said, he was a 
Freemason, and knew that there was a Bible at St. 
John's Lodge near by. It was brought and, as you 
can imagine, it is treasured by that lodge to this day. 

" The oath was solemnly pronounced by the chan- 
cellor, Washington bowing reverently and kissing the 
Bible. Then Livingston stepped forward, waved his 
hand and cried out, ' Long live George AVashington, 
President of the United States! "" At the same mo- 
ment a flag was displayed on tlie cupola of the build- 
ing, which was followed by a discharge of artillery at 
the Battery. The bells now began to ring out peals 
of joy and the people shouted and cheered. 

" Washington then delivered his inaugural ad- 
dress to both Jlouses of Congress, after which the 
wdiole assemblage proceeded on foot to St. Paul's, 
•where special services were held.^' 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 153 

" Why not to Trinitv? " asked George. 

" It had not yet been completely rebuilt. After 
the services a general jubilee took place, and in the 
evening there were brilliant illuminations and fire- 
works. Thus ISTew York honored him who had de- 
fended her in time of war, and now in time of peace, 
having been elevated to the highest post in the land, 
dwelt within her gates." 

'' Did Washington like living in Xew York? " 
asked Emily. 

" I imagine he liked it quite well, but his prefer- 
ence was, undoubtedly, his beloved Mount Vernon. 
Still, he enjoyed going to the John Street Theater, 
and, in spite of those who have tried to make him a 
man without humor, it is known that he laughed 
heartily at the good points of the play. He was 
fond, too, of walking to the Battery, or going on 
horseback to the upper part of the island, where Har- 
lem Heights and Fort Washington must have called 
up vivid memories of war and hardship, now^ happily 
but shadows of former anxieties. Then, too, there 
were visits to Vice-President Adams at Richmond 
Hill, the beautiful residence in Greenwich village 
that once served as Washington's headquarters. 
There was one custom also that pleased him very 
much, and that was the New-Yorkers' way of celebrat- 
ing Xew Year's day, by calling, wishing each other 
a Happy 'New Year, and extending a hospitable wel- 
come to every visitor. The President said he hoped 
ISTew York would never give up this genial custom, 
but a few years ago it began for some reason to go out 
of style, and it has now been completely dropped. 



15i A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

" About a month after Washington's arrival, Mrs. 
Washington and her two grandchiklren, Eleanor and 
George Washington Parke Custis, reached the city, 
using the same barge that had brought the President. 
Receptions and dinners were now the order of the 
day; the foreign ambassadors and many of the most 
distinguished men of the country resided here, and 
there was plenty of society life in town. There is a 
celebrated painting of Lady Washington's first grand 
reception, by Huntington, that contains sixty-four 
portrait figures of well-known persons. A study of 
this picture will make you acquainted with nearly all 
the prominent people that graced New York during 
that time. 

"• After a few months the Cherry Street house 
was found inconvenient, and the Washingtons moved 
to the McComb Mansion, No. 39 Broadway, which, 
being six stories high, was regarded as a wonderful 
building." 

" Wasn't that the place where the first houses 
were built, and where there is a tablet now? " asked 
Emily. 

" Yes, close by," said the professor. " Washing- 
ton celebrated his birthday in the year 1790 by mov- 
ing into his new residence. At the same time an- 
other form of celebration was going on elsewhere. 
A new society, known as Tammany, or the Columbian 
Order, organized about two weeks after Washington 
had taken the oath of ofiice, held a meeting on the 
Twenty-second of February, at which it was decided 
to commemorate the day regularly every year. Thir- 
teen toasts were then drunk in home-made porter. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 155 

" Tammany was organized as an intensely pa- 
triotic American society, and, instead of adopting any 
sucli foreign dignitary as St. George or St. Andrew, 
as had been the custom, it turned a well-known and 
highly respected Indian chief, Tammany, into a saint 




Tammany Hall in 1S30 ; present site of the New York Sun Build- 
ing. From an old print. 

and accepted him as its patron. Furthermore, in 
order not to ape any European ways, the members 
dressed in Indian costume, the home of the society 
was called a wigwam, and the ]n-esiding officer the 
Grand Sachem. The first ])ennaiioiit wigwam was 
where the Tribune Building stands to-day, the 
second where the Sun is now established, and the 
third its present home in Fourteenth Street. The 
early history of Tammany is very interesting. It 



156 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

founded a museum, engaged in charitable work, and 
in the year 1808 gave j^roper burial to the remains 
of the unfortunate victims of the prison ships. For 
years their ashes had been literally blown about, no 
one considering it his duty to inter them. Under 
the auspices of Tammany a vault was built in Hudson 
Avenue, Brooklyn, a notable funeral procession or- 
ganized, and the collins reverently deposited in this 
Tomb of Patriots.* 

" But to go back to the year 1790. jSTew York 
was then the city of official gatherings and state af- 
fairs; still, there wasn't a bath room, a furnace, a gas 
jet, or a match in town. Latchkeys were unknown, 
steel pens were not in use, and coal had not been in- 
troduced. To reach Harlem one was compelled to 
go on horseback or in a carriage ; to visit Albany, the 
quickest conveyance was a sailboat which generally 
took a week; to send a letter to Savannah, thirty- 
three cents in postage was required." 

" I don't think I should have liked New York 
very much in those days," remarked Tom. 

" Still, other cities were jealous of Xew York, 
and before the end of the year 1790 Congress de- 
cided to honor Philadelphia by making it the capital. 
So Washington once more bade farewell to ^lan- 
linttan Island, the Senators and the Representatives 

* During tlie summer of 1000, wliile excavations were going 
on in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a large number of additional 
skeletons were unearthed. Under the auspices of the Prison-Ship 
Martyrs' Association and officials from the navy, on June 16tli, 
the remains were placed with becoming ceremonies next to those 
previously interred. A movement is on foot to erect a monument 
to these martyrs. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 157 

followed suit, likewise the foreign ambassadors, and 
all the officials of the national Government, leaving 
New York to make the best of her natural resources, 
and to depend on the energy and enterprise of her 
own citizens." 



CHAPTEK IX 

" Here's a curiosity," remarked the professor, 
the next time we met, handing George a thin pam- 
phlet. 

" The jSTew York Directory," said George, read- 
ing the title-page. 

" Can you decipher the date? " 

- 1786." 

" This is a reprint of the first directory ever is- 
sued in New York city. It has about eighty pages, 
some nine hundred names and addresses, includes an 
almanac, a table of coins, arrivals and departures of 
the mails, a list of the professors of Columbia Col- 
lege, the officers and directors of the Bank of Xew 
York (the only one in the city), and other interesting 
matter. It contains, also, a curious coincidence. 
Turn to page 63, George, and read, under the head 
of ' Lawyers,' the first name." 

" Aaron Burr, Esq., 10 Little Queen Street." 

" Little Queen is now C^edar Street," explained 
the professor. " And what name is next? " 

" Alexander Hamilton, Esq., 57 Wall Street." 

" You will notice that these two names are not 
in their alphabetical order, which makes the coin- 
cidence all the more remarkable. Perhaps the pub- 
158 



160 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



lislier of the directory placed tliem together because 
they were the two most brilliant lawyers of their 
day. At any rate, there they are, and now we are 
ready to talk abont their deplorable duel. I have 
already j^ointed out to you the difference between 
the Federalists, who believed in a strong national 
Government, and the Anti-federalists, who thought 
more of the States than of the 
United States. Hamilton was 
an ardent Federalist, Burr was 
on the other side. They were 
thus political enemies. Burr 
had been chosen Vice-President 
of the United States, but he 
believed that if it had not been 
for Hamilton he might have 
had the presidency. By and 
by he sought the governorship 
of IvTew York, and again Ham- 
ilton crossed his path and de- 
feated him. Burr then heard 
that Hamilton had referred to 
him as a dangerous man, and demanded an explana- 
tion, ^o doubt Hamilton, broad-minded statesman 
that he was, did think Burr, who stooped to the lowest 
tricks of a ward ]>olitician, a dangerous man, and he 
was too honest and too courageous to deny it. Then 
followed a challenge and the duel at Weehawken. 

"Early on the morning of July 11th, wlien the 
birds were singing and all Xature was smiling, a boat 
left the neighborhood of Hamilton Grange, another 
that of Richmond Hill, now Burr's country house, 




A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 161 



and crossed tlie Hudson. An hour later tliey re- 
turned, one bearing- the fatally wounded Hamilton. 
There is proof that he 
made no effort to hit 
his antagonist ; Burr 
shot to kill. 

" When Xew York 
heard of the duel, the 
excitement became in- 
tense; Avlien the peo- 
ple learned of Hamil- 
ton's death they were 
horror - stricken and 
too deeply grieved to 
express their sorrow, 
but their tongues were 
loosened when they 
thought of Burr, and 
their indignation was 
uttered in no uncer- 
tain terms. It seems 
that Burr had sup- 
posed himself so popu- 
lar that nothing could 
harm him. Suddenly, 
to his astonishment, 
he discovered that he 
was hated and despised; fear took hold of him, he 
became afraid of his own shadow; and, finally, like 
one who dreads the hand of justice, he ran away, 
and was loathed ever afterward. 

" Meanwhile the name of Hamilton has been 




Statue of Alexander Haniiltou in Cen- 
tral Park. Erected 1880. 
Photographed 1900. 



162 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

elierislied, his fame has spread and the wonderful 
achievements of his brilliant mind are still of service 
to his country, constituting a monument that needs 
no inscription." 

" It seems too bad, though," said Emily, " that he 
should have died in such a way." 

" I quite agree with you," remarked the pro- 
fessor. " This benefit came of it, however: it put an 
end for all time to dueling in this city. It seems 
really that to improve matters on this earth some sort 
of sacrifice is necessary. 

" Hamilton's funeral took place on July 14th. 
Amid the doleful booming of cannon an imposing 
and sorrowful procession moved slowly down Broad- 
way to Trinity. Every organization in the city was 
represented, and the whole community was in mourn- 
ing. On a platform in the church sat the four sons 
of the great statesman, the youngest only four years 
of age. Gouverneur Morris, one of Hamilton's best 
friends, delivered the funeral oration. The body 
was interred with military honors in the church- 
yard, and a monument was afterward erected 
over his grave by the Society of the Cincinnati. 
A memorial was also erected over the spot where 
he fell. 

" Writing of this tragic place, one of our poets 
has said : 

" ' When the great strife for freedom rose, 
Here scouted oft her friends and foes 
Alternate, tlironoh the clianging war, 
And beacon fires flaslied high and far; 
And here, wlien Freedom's strife was won, 
Fell, in sad feud, her favor'd son. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 163 

" ' There last he stood. Before liis sight 
Flowed the fair river, free and bright : 
The rising mart, and isles and bay, 
Before him in their glory lay — 
Scenes of his love and of his fame — 
The instant ere the death-shot came.' " 

" What is the Society of the Cincinnati? " asked 
Emily. 

" An organization," answered the professor, 
"formed in 1783 by the ofhcers of the Continental 
armv. It was named in memory of an illnstrious 
Roman, Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus, who retired 
from war to the peaceful pursuits of the citizen. Its 
objects were to preserve the rights and liberties for 
which the patriots had so nobly fought, to promote 
and cherish national honor and union among the 
States, to maintain brotherly kindness, and to ex- 
tend relief to memliers or their families in need of it. 
Men distinguished for patriotism or special talents 
were admissible as honorary mcnd)ers. The first 
president, I need scarcely add, was George Wash- 
ington. 

" As I remarked ]»efore," continued the profess- 
or, " a sacrifice is generally necessary to gain some 
benefit. It almost appears as if mankind objects to 
being helped. As an instance, take the case of Rob- 
ert Fulton. He was insulted and ridiculed because 
he audaciously planned to run a boat by steam." 

"Was he really laughed at?" asked Tom, in- 
credulously. 

"Oh, yes," answered the ]irofessor; "right here 
in Xew York. It was a time when some of the 
master minds of the world were trvino- to solve the 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 105 

problem of overcoming space; but the people, not 
understanding the matter, laughed at the experi- 
ments. Robert Fulton began life in Pennsylvania 
on a farm. At an early age he showed a decided 
talent for painting, later for invention. He was not 
the first, however, to build a steamboat. One had 
been operated in Europe as early as 1543. In 179G 
'New York had seen a boat go by steam. John Fitch 
had built it and propelled it around the Collect Pond, 
carrying wdtli him as a passenger Chancellor Robert 
R. Livingston, who, besides attending to affairs of 
state, was greatly interested in steam. Livingston 
and Fulton met in Europe and there planned to build 
a steamboat that would carry passengers and freight 
up and down the Hudson. The result was the con- 
struction of the Clermont in 1807, a boat one hun- 
dred and thirty-three feet long, with tw^o clumsy- 
looking paddle wheels and a very tall smokestack. 
The doubting Thomases called it ' Fulton's Folly.' 
A great crowed gathered at the wduirf on the day of 
her first trip, and some made sarcastic remarks which 
Fulton overheard. At his command, however, the 
boat moved, reached midstream, and plowed her 
way through the water against the wind, going about 
five miles an hour. The people were surprised to see 
her keep on and finally disappear; they were fairly 
astonished to see her back again four days later with 
proof that she had been to Albany and back. Here 
was a modern miracle; no one had dreamed such a 
thing possible. Her appearance as she glided uj) the 
Hudson literally astounded the natives, especially at 
night. The sparks shooting up from the tall smoke- 



•^Y1 



^1 1 1 I 



'.ia 







A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 107 

stack, and the noise of the machinery, so startled the 
terror-stricken observers that some of them fell on their 
knees, thinking that a fearful monster was upon them. 

" Thus Fulton, in his forty-second year, achieved 
a success that aroused the attention and admiration 
of the whole world. It was the first practical step 
in the direction of reducing space on the water, and 
New York enjoyed the honor of seeing the effort 
crowned with success; and 3'et, strange to say, 'New 
York has never seen fit to raise a memorial of any 
sort to this illustrious citizen." 

" How did the sailboat men like the new steam- 
boat? " asked George. 

" ]^ot at all ; in fact, they did all in their power 
to damage it, and often the Clermont arrived at Al- 
bany or New York with one paddle wheel smashed or 
missing. There was a certain sailboat man, how- 
ever, who acted in a different spirit — namely, young 
Captain Cornelius Vanderbilt. 

'' Vanderbilt was a boy of thirteen when Fulton's 
boat made its first trip to Albany. Vanderbilt senior 
was a Staten Island ferryman, and the boy's highest 
ambition in life was to own a boat like that of his 
father. At the age of sixteen he begged his mother 
to lend him the considerable sum of one hundred dol- 
lars wherewith to buy a boat. She agreed to do so, 
if he would plow, harrow, and plant with corn a cer- 
tain field within a certain time. It was a rough, 
tough, and stony field, but young Vanderbilt was not 
dismayed. ITe induced some of his boy friends to 
help him, and the work was done on the day agreed 
upon. Furthermore, it was well and thoroughly 



168 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



done. Vanderbilt now bought liis boat and began 
bis career. There were forty other boatmen in the 

business ahead of him, but 
soon his close attention to 
his duties and the care 
he took of the money he 
earned told in his favor. 
For several years he gave 
most of his receipts to his 
parents. In the meantime 
his way of doing whatever 
he undertook thoroughly 
and satisfactorily brought 
him more and more busi- 




(juyj^ 



ness. 



" Eight 



years passed. 
Vanderbilt was now twenty-four, and the owner of 
several of the best sailboats on the river and of nine 
thousand dollars in cash. Suddenly he gave up his 
profitable business and accepted a position as captain 
of a steamboat, at one thousand dollars a year, or 
one third of the amount he had been earning before. 
He had made up his mind that the steamboat had 
come to stay, and that the path of success was in the 
new direction. In the course of time he owned steam- 
boats instead of sailboats. Again, later, when the 
railroad began to oifer better facilities than the 
steamboat, he forsook the latter and became an 
owner of railroads. In this way, through doing what 
he undertook thoroughly and well, and being alert 
as to the best means of serving the public, he built 
up his colossal fortune." 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 169 



"And how about Astor? " queried Tom. 

" He began somewhat earlier," said the professor. 
" He was born in the little German village of Wal- 
dorf, in 1763, and arrived here when he was twenty- 
one years old — the year 
after the Revolutionary 
War came to an end. He 
had a brother in New 
York in the butcher busi- 
ness, who found a place 
for the lad in a fur estab- 
lishment, where he re- 
ceived two dollars a week 
and board for beating- 
furs. Other boys had 
filled this position before 
Astor, but the world has 
not heard of them. Young 

John Jacob made up his mind the very first day he 
went to work that he would learn all there was to 
know of the fur business. And he did. His em- 
ployer found out, ere long, also, that this was no 
laggard of a lad, and advanced him rapidly. Three 
years after his arrival Astor swung out his own sign, 
and within sixteen years he had acquired a quarter 
of a million dollars, a great fortune in those days. 

" Here was another case of doing things thor- 
oughly and of studying conditions. For instance, 
Astor carefully watched the growth of the city. One 
day he sold a piece of property in Wall Street for 
eight thousand dollars. The purchaser remarked, 
after the papers were signed, that he thought he had 




170 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

made a good bargain, prophesying that in a few jeavs 
the lot would be worth twelve thousand dollars. 
' True/ replied Astor, ' but with your eight thousand 
dollars I shall buy eighty lots above Canal Street, 
which, by the time your lot is worth twelve thousand, 
will be worth eighty thousand.' And so it proved 
to be. 

" It was not, however," continued the professor, 
*' the making of fortunes that led me to speak of Yan- 
derbilt and Astor, though the success that crowns in- 
dustry is always interesting; nor was it to point out 
in this way the commercial development that was 
taking place in Xew York, but to show you to what 
splendid use money may be put. AVlien the AVar of 
the Rebellion broke out A^anderbilt was al)le to show 
his patriotic spirit by presenting the Government 
with a fine steamer, while his descendants enjoyed 
the privilege of contributing nearly two millions of 
dollars to the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 
this city, thus rendering it one of the finest medical 
institutions in the country. The Astor Library em- 
bodies the generous donations of the Astor family, 
amounting to about a million and a half dollars. 
The Cooper Union Library and Free Schools, and the 
Lenox Library with its rich treasures, are similar ex- 
amples of the immeasurable good that wealth may 
provide. Furthermore, I would have you remem- 
ber that it was love for the city and a desire to en- 
large its resources of learning and art, to benefit its 
citizens, to elevate their tastes, to increase their 
knowledge, and to add to their happiness, that 
prompted these grand and munificent bestowals." 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 171 

" If ever I have a fortune," remarked Tom seri- 
ously, " I shall do something for the city." 

" Don't wait until you get your fortune," said 
the professor. " Begin by doing small things and 








Cooper Union and Peter Cooper's statue. From a recent photograph. 

the greater ones will follow. Only a few days ago I 
read in one of our newspapers of a modest little club 
of boys that had been formed downtown somewhere 
by some kind-hearted people. A sculptor became in- 
terested and showed the lads how to work in clay. 
One little fellow, possessing the precious gift of gen- 
ius, was ill that club. From the club he went to 



172 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

Cooper Union, then to the Academy of Design, and 
to-day he is on the high road to fame." 

" Was Peter Cooper a poor boy? " asked Emily. 

*' A very poor boy," answered the professor; " so 
poor that in all his yonth he had bnt six months of 
school life. AVliile he was an apprentice, receiving 
the pitiful sum of fifty dollars a year, he bought a 
tallow dip, and by the light of this dip he educated 
himself. It was during these days, while acquiring 
knowledge in this hard way, that he made up his 
mind, if ever fortune bestowed sufiicient means upon 
him, to found a night school for mechanics who like 
himself were ambitious to learn. Many other men 
have been stirred to make similar resolutions while 
undergoing privations and hardships in early life, but 
later, in the enjoyment of prosperity, have forgotten 
all about their fine intentions. Peter Cooper did not 
forget — he never swerved from his early purpose. 

" But we have been wandering. Let us go back 
to old ISTew York and become better acquainted with 
another of her brilliant sons, whose name has already 
been mentioned — Do Witt Clinton. In 1790, at the 
age of twenty-one, he became private secretary to his 
uncle, Governor George Clinton; at twenty-eight he 
entered the State Assembly, at twenty-nine the Sen- 
ate, at thirty-two he was sent to the United States 
Senate; at thirty-three he w-as appointed Mayor of 
New York; and at the age of fifty-five he was elected 
Governor of the State by the greatest majority ever 
given to a candidate up to that time. 

" Busy as Clinton was with the affairs of state, he 
still had time for other matters. He was one of the 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK I73 

most active organizers of the Historical Society, like- 
wise of tlie Academy of Fine Arts. He enjoyed the 
honor, too, of being the first President of the Public 
School Society, formed in 1805. 




New York Free School No. 2, Chatham Street, 1808. From an old 
print iu Valentine's Manual for 1866. 

" Before this time the chnrches had established 
schools, l)ut the children of the churchless poor were 
allowed to grow np in ignorance. Some Quaker 
ladies started the first movement to provide an educa- 
tion for the city's waifs, and Clinton, together with 
others, joined in the good work. Thus was begun 
what is now one of !New York's proudest institutions, 
a system that provides primary, grammar, and high 
schools, where two hundred and eighty thousand chil- 



174 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

dren receive free education; night scliools, where 
those who work during the day may learn; vacation 
schools for the summer months, and free lectures for 
winter evenings; also two colleges, where the higher 
branches of knowledge are taught, and where young 




Modern schndllKiuse. At West End Avenue and KiKhty-sccond 
Street. From a recent photograph. 

men and young women are fitted for professional 
careers. Over five thousand teachers are employed 
in this vast work which is carried on in one hundred 
and eighty-one buildings. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 175 



""While Clinton was mayor — in 1812 — onr pres- 
ent City Hall was completed, and it remains to-day 




IplttP 







New Hall of tlic Board of Education, Fifty-ninth Street and 
Park Avenue. Photographed 1900. 
13 



176 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

among the most beautiful architectural features of 
the metropolis. The front and sides are of marble, 
but the rear is of sandstone. The latter was used 
for economical reasons, the belief being that the up- 
town side was of little consequence, as the city would 
be a long time growing north of the new building. 
In 1890 the brownstone was painted white." 

" They'd stare if they were to see New York to- 
day, I guess," said Tom proudly. 

" The brownstone idea seems all the more curious 
when we are told that in 1807 a commission laid out 
our present gridiron plan of numbered streets and 
avenues up to One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Street. 
The committeemen apologized, it is true, for having 
done so much ' laying out,' and acknowledged that 
probably not for centuries would most of these streets 
be occupied. Less than one century has passed and 
nearly every inch of ground is now covered with its 
pile of brick and mortar. 

" In 1814, while the war with England was in 
progress, New York was thrown into a fever of ex- 
citement by a rumor that the Island of Manhattan 
was to be invaded by the British. As usual, the de- 
fenses were poor and few. Clinton issued a stirring 
address to the people, asking their help to complete 
the unfinished fortifications. Four days later three 
thousand persons were at work; and even the news- 
papers suspended publication, so that their men might 
help. Among the enthusiastic volunteers were — 
"'Plumbers, founders, dyers, tinners, tanners, shavers, 
Sweeps, clerks and criers, jewelers, engravers. 
Clothiers, drapers, players, cartmen, hatters, nailers, 
Gaugers, scalers, weighers, carpenters, and sailors.' 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 177 

" In short, every one who could handle a pick or 
a spade, or carry earth on a shingle, did so. Such 
was New York's display of patriotic spirit, and every 




Map of McGowan's Pass and Forts Fish and Clinton. Copied from 
a chart of 1814. 



178 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

lad who was able to shoulder a musket offered his 
services. The I^arrows and Hell Gate were pro- 
tected, and all the hills on the island bristled with 
earthworks and cannon. 

" There are some interesting landmarks of this 
period in Central Park and just beyond it, which I 
now purpose showing you," said the professor. 

We were always ready for an excursion, and 
eagerly accompanied our guide to the site of McGow^- 
an's Pass, which we remembered as an important fea- 
ture of Revolutionary days. 

" This vicinity was particularly well fortified," 
began the professor. " As the map shows you, there 
was a fort on either side of the pass, the two being 
connected by a line of breastworks. "' Would you 
like to see the site of one of these works — Fort 
Clinton?" 

There was an immediate assent. 

The professor, acting on his suggestion, led the 
way to the little pond just above the Fifth Avenue 
entrance at One Hundred and Fifth Street and 
pointed to a hill opposite, from the top of which rose 
a flagstaff. 

'' It doesn't look very warlike," remarked Emily, 
impressed by the calm beauty of the scene. 

" Let us climb to the top," suggested the pro- 
fessor by way of reply. 

We did so, and were surprised to find near the 
flagstaff several old cannons, the appearance of which 
was sufficiently indicative of war to satisfy all of us. 

We now made our way to the old Blockliouse, 
situated near One Hundred and Tenth Street, and 



180 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

were forcibly reminded of its excellent position by 
the steep ascent to its lofty perch. This was one of 
several, the professor explained, that guarded the 
roads during the War of 1812 from Hell Gate on the 
east to the heights near the spot where Grant's Tomb 
is located on the west. 

" On the Fourth of July last," continued the pro- 
fessor, " I came up here before daybreak to see the 
ceremony of raising the flag. I arrived at four 
o'clock, and ten minutes later heard the inspiring 
music of fifes and drums. Then through the en- 
trance at One Hundred and Tenth Street came the 
Washington Continental Guard and some detach- 
ments of the naval militia. At 4.33 the moment of 
sunrise, the flag was run up, and the drum corps 
played ' Yankee Doodle.' It was a simple but a 
touching act ; the freshness of morning was about us, 
the Stars and Stripes floated beautifully in the air of 
freedom; I stood upon historic ground and felt the 
true feeling of patriotism. 

" The Guard soon marched off to another Block- 
house, which we shall visit next," said the professor, 
leading the way down. At One Hundred and Twenty- 
third Street, near Amsterdam Avenue, we paused, 
and saw firmly fij^ed on a prominent base of rocks the 
second Blockhouse. It had a decidedly warlike look, 
and but little stretch of the imagination was required 
to fancy the presence of cannons and soldiers. 

" In addition to the forts and blockhouses there 
were strong gates that were used as barriers. One 
blocked McGowan's Pass, and the other helped to pro- 
tect Manhattanville. 




Site of Fort Clinton in Central Park, between One Hundred and Sixth 
and One Hundred and Seventh Streets, near Fifth Avenue. Pho- 
tographed 1900. 



182 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

" A little to the northwest, situated on a mass of 
rocks was Fort Laight, named in honor of Lieutenant- 
Colonel E. W. Laight, of the city militia. A few 
years ago the remains of this fort were still visible, 
near the south side of One Hundred and Twenty-fifth 
Street, one hundred and twenty yards east of Elev- 
enth Avenue. 

" Enough of war, however," remarked the pro- 
fessor, " and of warlike memorials. Let us turn our 
attention once more to the achievements of peace. 
Clinton's wise administration, as I have indicated, had 
contributed much to the prosperity of the city, but he 
was destined to render it a greater service than any 
already to his credit. To cut a canal through New 
York State and thus to unite the Great Lakes and 
the Hudson was his dream and his ambition. In 
1800 Buffalo was a village and Rochester a mere 
clearing with a single log cabin. The great fertile 
regions in that section, now rich with wheat, were 
almost bare, because it cost too much to transport the 
grain to Albany. At last, in 1810, after a great deal 
of work, the Legislature was induced to appoint a 
committee of investigation. Gouverneur Morris, 
one of iSTew York's worthy sons, and De AVitt 
Clinton, untiring and never satisfied that he had 
done enough, were on this committee. Later on, 
Robert Eulton was also appointed. 

" The plan contemplated a canal four hundred 
and forty miles in length, and an expenditure of six 
million dollars. Clinton saw clearly what an enor- 
mous benefit the city would derive, but his political 
enemies, who referred to his project as ' The Big 




Blockhouse, One Hundred and Twenty-third Street, east of 
Amsterdiim Avenue. Photographed 1900. 



184 A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 

Ditch,' liampered liim at every step, and in 1824, 
after lie had worked for fourteen years, succeeded in 
having him removed from the committee." 

" What a shame! " exclaimed Emily. 

" Ay, but they hurt themselves more than they 
hurt him. When the people heard what had been 
done, indignation meetings were held, and when elec- 
tion time came they gave him that big majority for 
governor that I have already mentioned, 

" But to return to the canal. On October 26, 
1825, everything was ready to let the waters of Lake 
Erie into the channel that had been dug. A great 
celebration had been planned. There being no tele- 
graph in those days, cannons had been placed all 
along the route to give notice of the great event. At 
ten o'clock the first gun was fired; at eleven o'clock 
the Albany signal rang out; all the way down the 
Hudson the flashes told the story, and at 11.21 l^ew 
York heard the glad tidings. In the meantime four 
canal boats, carrying a distinguished company, 
started from Buffalo. Everywhere along the route 
crowds were gathered to welcome the ]n-oud little 
fleet; it seemed, in fact, as if the people of the whole 
State had turned out to rejoice. At Al])any there 
was a congratulatory address, a public dinner, and 
a grand illumination in the evening. On i^ovember 
5th the canal boats reached ISTew York. Then a 
great procession of all sorts of vessels, covered with 
flags and banners, formed, moved down the bay and 
out beyond Sandy Hook, salutes greeting it from the 
forts. 

" Here Governor Clinton, whose tall, well-pro- 



186 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

portioned figure always commanded attention, 
stepped forward, lifted on liigii a keg of water 
bronglit from Lake Erie, and poured the contents 
into the ocean, thus mingling the two waters. In 
the meantime a celebration no less impressive was 
taking place on land. A procession four and a half 
miles long paraded with banners and music through 
the principal streets. In the evening fireworks and 
illuminations followed, and the whole city Avore an 
air of festivity. 

" It is well-nigh impossible to measure the bene- 
fits of the Erie Canal; it turned a wilderness into a 
vast fertile area, and brought into IvTew York the 
produce of these new fields. Without doubt it con- 
tributed more than any previous achievement to in- 
crease the commercial interests of the city. 

" From an ode written for the Canal Celebration 
I have copied the following verse that thrills with the 
sjDirit of the time : 

" ' 'Tis done ! 'Tis done ! The miglity chain 
Which joins bright Erie to the Main, 
For ages shall perpetuate 
The glory of our native State! ' 

" While ISTew York was thus progressing in one 
direction, it was still backward in many ways. Its 
sanitary conditions were very bad, and it suffered 
from fearful epidemics. Smallpox, cholera, and yel- 
low fever in turn played awful havoc among its in- 
habitants. The year 1822 marked a climax and be- 
came known as ' the year of the yellow fever.' 
Everybody who could, rushed out of town. A pro- 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 187 

cession of carts and carriages moved up Broadway to 
Greenwich village, wliieli was known to be a health- 
ful spot. At Liberty Street a high board fence was 
stretched across the island as a quarantine measure. 
Meanwhile, Greenwich suddenly developed into a 
town. Houses were put uji as if by magic; banks, 
newspapers, and wholesale firms sprouted overnight. 
Bank Street, so named because the banks selected 
that row, is a reminder of the yellow-fever year. 
Thus Greenwich began to grow; it grew, further- 
more, in its own peculiar way, and when in later 
years it came in contact with the upward-moving 
city, its streets, having followed a direction of their 
own, could not be made to harmonize with those of 
the town, which explains why West Fourth and West 
Tenth Streets, instead of running parallel, deliber- 
ately cross each other, to the utter confusion of peo- 
ple who are not w^ell acquainted with old Greenwich 
ways. 

" Gradually greater attention was paid to sani- 
tary measures; foreign vessels were inspected on 
their arrival ; but twenty years passed ere a system of 
runniug water was introduced, and not until 1866 
was the Board of Health established. 

" In 1825 a new wonder surprised the town. The 
house at Xo. 7 Cherry Street was lighted by gas. In 
it lived the President of the Xew York Gas Com- 
pany, a recently organized corporation. About this 
time pipes were laid in Broadway from Canal Street 
to the Battery, and ISTew York for the first time in 
its history beheld a well-lighted street. Gradually 
other streets were thus favored, though for years the 




PS 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 189 

town presented a checkered appearance, one block 
being dimly lighted with ancient oil lamps and an- 
other brilliantly illuminated from the works of the 
new gas company. 

'' On December 16, 1835, a terrible fire suddenly 
broke out in the neighborhood of Pearl and AVall 
Streets and wrought awful havoc. It Avas intensely 
cold; the little water that could be obtained quickly 
froze, and the flames sj)read without check. For three 
days the conflagration continued, and was only 
stopped by blowing up a number of buildings with 
gunpowder. Six hundred and fifty houses were de- 
stroyed and twenty million dollars' worth of property 
consumed. The Dutch Church in Garden Street and 
a Marble Exchange in Wall Street, containing a 
statue of Hamilton, were among the ruined struc- 
tures. 

" A poet of that time thus gave expression to his 
sad thoughts on viewing the ravages of the flames: 

" ' Alas! that pillai'd pile! how, as I gazed 
Upon the blacken'd shafts, did I recall 
The sculptured marble there, whose brow was raised 
So like a god's, within that shadowy hall! 
Immortal Hamilton! — though crumpled deep 
In the red chaos of that billowy night, 
It needs no chisel's memory to keep 
Thy spirit's nobler outline vast and bright! 
No time — no element can mar the fame, 
Gathered, like fadeless sunlight, round thy spotless name! ' 

" In Pearl Street, almost opposite the AVilliam 
Bradford tal)let, there is a gray limestone memorial, 
consisting of a female figure, beneath which ajtpears 
the following inscription: 



190 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



DESTROYED 1835 

IN THE CONFLAGRATION 16, 17 DEC'bER. 

650 BUILDINGS CONTAINING MERCHANDISE 

WERE CONSUMED IN ONE NIGHT. 

LOSS 20,000,000 OF DOLLARS, 

REBUILT 1836. 

AGAIN DESTROYED BY FIRE 1853. 



" The lack of water on this occasion was one of 
the chief causes that led to the construction of the 
Croton Aqueduct. Its starting point was forty 
miles from the City Hall, and it involved the tunnel- 
ing of solid rocks, the crossing of valleys by embank- 
ments, and of brooks by culverts. At the Harlem 
River it necessitated the building of High Bridge, 
fourteen hundred and fifty feet long and one hundred 
and fourteen feet above high water. It also required 
the erection of two reservoirs: one south of Eighty- 
sixth Street, called the Receiving Reservoir; the 
other (now being torn down to make room for our 
great Public Library) at Forty-second Street and 
Fifth Avenue, used as a distributing basin. Since 
then the big reservoir, extending from Eighty-sixth 
Street to JSTinety-sixth Street, designated as the Re- 
taining Reservoir, has been added to the system. It 
covers one hundred and nine acres, and has a capacity 
of one thousand million gallons. 

" The year 1842 saw the completion of the great 
undertaking, and in October the city, always ready 
to celebrate, organized a monster demonstration. A 
procession, including representatives of all the vari- 
ous trades, with floats and banners, marched through 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 191 

the streets and was reviewed by the governor, mem- 
bers of Congress, and mayors of neighboring cities. 
City Hall Park was the center of interest, for here 
an ingeniously constructed fountain had been built, 
the main jet throwing a column of water sixty feet 
into the air, while, by shifting a plate, the spouting 
waters could be made to assume seven different 
shapes. 

" The people of to-day can hardly picture the 
city without its Croton, nor do we realize that our 
light touch taps a stream whose pure and wholesome 
source is forty miles away. The rejoicing when this 
blessing was bestowed upon jSTew York is well de- 
scribed by the poet George P. Morris, whose words 
ril read you : 

" ' Water leaps as if delighted, 

While the conquered foes retire; 
Pale Contagion flees afi'righted 

With the baffled demon Fire. 
W^ater sliouts a glad hosanna, 

Bubbles up tlie earth to bless; 
Cheers it like the precious manna 

In the barren wilderness. 

" ' Round the aqueducts of story, 

As the mists of Lethe throng; 
Croton's waves, in all their glory. 

Troop in melody along. 
Ever sparkling, bright and single, 

W^ill this rock-ribbed spring appear. 
When posterity shall mingle 

Like the gathered waters here.' 

" A memento of the old style of water supply is 
still in existence in the shape of a solitary hand i)ump 
at the corner of Trinity Place and Cedar Street." 
14 



CHAPTER X 

" The newspapers of the first half of the centiuy 
were very different from those of to-day. They 
were serions sheets intended for business offices, were 
expensive, and were delivered by special messengers. 
As a rule, none but merchants subscribed for them. 
The man who first thought of a bright, newsy, cheap 
paper is almost unknown. He was Horatio D. Shep- 
pard, and, strange to say, was not a journalist. He 
was a student of medicine, who used to pass through 
Chatham Street, where all sorts of things were sold 
for a few cents. He noticed that the cheapest arti- 
cle sold most readily; nobody seemed to mind spend- 
ing a cent. Suddenly the thought of a one-cent 
newspaper came to his mind — to be sold by boys just 
as peanuts and candy were sold. 

" Sheppard had but little money, and conse- 
quently sought to interest the printers of the town 
in his plan. They laughed at it, as people had 
laughed at Fulton when he spoke of a steamboat. 
To sell newspapers like cakes and candy seemed a 
ridiculous proposition. 

" There was one young printer, however, who lis- 
tened to Sheppard. This was Horace Greeley. He 
was born in New Hampshire in 1811, came to New 
192 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 193 

York wlicn lie was twcntv, excited ridicule by liis 
homespun clothes and his peculiar appearance, but 
soon convinced people that he knew what he was 
about. Greeley had a friend named Story; the two 
formed a partnership in 1832, and agreed to publish 
Sheppard's paper, but they insisted that the price 
must be two cents. On January 1, 1833, The Morn- 
ing Post was issued amid a terrible snowstorm. 
There were few people in the streets, while the news- 
boys were soon chilled and were glad to run home. 
The Post lived just two weeks and three days, and 
then appeared no more. 

" Still, the effort was not in vain. Nine months 
later The New York Sun was established as a one- 
cent paper, while Horace Greeley owed his start in 
business to Slieppard and his idea. In 1834 Crreeley 
formed a new partnership and planned a weekly 
paper called The New-Yorker. About this time 
James Gordon Bennett, then a newspaper writer, 
came to Greeley, showed him a fifty-dollar bill and 
some smaller notes, and invited him to join in the 
project of establishing a paper to be called The New 
York Herald. Greeley declined, being too much 
taken up with his own idea. 

" The first number of The Herald, price one cent, 
appeared in May, 1835. The office was in a cellar in 
Wall Street. The office furniture consisted of a 
chair and a plaids ]daced across two barrels. Here 
Bennett wrote editorials and attended to customers. 
He worked sixteen or seventeen hours a day. From 
five to eight in the morning he wrote short, crisp edi- 
torials that attracted and amused his readers; dur- 



194 A LANDMARK PIISTORY OF NEW YORK 

ing the regiilai- morning business lionrs he wrote ad- 
vertisements, sold papers, and prepared material for 
the printers; abont one o'clock he sallied forth and 
picked up Wall Street paragraphs; from four to six 
he was back at his office; while in the evening he vis- 
ited a theater, a ball, a concert, or a public meeting, 
and gathered news and gossip. Thus The Herald 
began its career. 

" In 18-il Greelej, assisted by Henry J. Kaymond, 
launched The Tribune. The first edition consisted 
of five thousand copies, and with difficulty were the 
papers distributed. A rival journal sought to kill the 
new enterprise by sending men to fight the little fel- 
lows who were trying to sell the new journal. Gree- 
ley published the whole story, and the circulation 
began to grow at an astonishing pace. At the end 
of seven weeks its edition was eleven thousand, which 
was the utmost a press of that day could print. The 
country boy, who a few years before was so poor and 
so wretched-looking that no one wanted to hire him, 
was now the most prominent editor in ]S[ew York. 

" It has been said of Greeley that he was able to 
produce more good editorials per year than any other 
editor of his time. Raymond, just fresh from col- 
lege, was a born journalist, and was able to do an 
astonishing amount of excellent work. In 1851 he 
founded The Xew York Times. Some time later 
Charles A. Dana joined Greeley's staft". His bril- 
liant services subsequently as editor of The IvTew 
York Sun have everywhere been acknowledged. 
Bayard Taylor and Margaret Fuller also contributed 
to the columns of The Tribune, and helped to make 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 195 




it a great power and a fine newspaper. Thus, this 
little band of gifted and intensely bard-working 
journalists laid the founda- 
tion of the cheap press — 
cheap in price, but wonder- 
ful in every other way. 

" Of course, at first, 
news, such as we understand 
the term, was impossible to 
get, but in the year 1844 
the introduction of the tele- 
graph system by Samuel F. 
B. Morse changed the whole 
situation. Morse, like Ful- 
ton, devoted his early years 
to art, and then became in- 
terested in science. In 1832, during a trip across 
the ocean from Europe, he met a gentleman who 
explained to him certain experiments that had been 
conducted in Paris with the electro-magnet. The 
marvelous speed of the electric fluid along a wire 
suggested to Morse's inventive brain the idea of thus 
overcoming space, and on his return to jSTew York 
he at once began experimenting in his studio. 

" It took him five years to invent and perfect an 
alphabet of dots and dashes, and an instrument that 
would properly record them. At last, however, the 
little key obeyed the touch perfectly, and clicked its 
messages as clearly as the human voice. Then Morse 
showed his device to the public, but, as usual, the 
ignorant laughed and would not believe. In 1843 a 
bill was introduced into Congress appropriating a 



196 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



sum of money to establish an experimental line be- 
tween Washington and Baltimore. The last day of 

the session arrived, one 
hundred and twenty bills 
were still ahead of it, and 
Morse, after waiting un- 
til a late hour, went away 
discouraged. But the 
next morning came a sur- 
prise, j^ews was brought 
to him by Miss Ellsworth, 
daughter of the Commis- 
sioner of Patents, that 
the bill had been passed. 
In May, 1844, the line 
was completed, a message prepared by Miss Ellsworth 
was successfully forwarded, and the world was in 
possession of a new marvel. 

" Morse's residence was in ISTew York. At I^o. 5 
West Twenty-second Street you will find a tablet 
that tells this story: 




797.<f-^Xt 



I.N 


THIS HOUSE 


s. 


F. B 


MORSE 


LIVED 


FOR 


MANY YEARS 




AND 


DIED. 



"In 1853 a World's Fair was opened in ISTew 
York in a magnificent structure of glass and iron, 
called the Crystal Palace, located out in the country 
near Forty-second Street and Fifth Avenue. It was 
completely destroyed by fire in 1858. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 197 

" In 1856 our beautiful Central Park was laid 
out. The committee that took charge of this im- 
portant undertaking consisted of the Mayor, the 
Commissioner of Streets, Washington Irving, the 
author; George Bancroft, the historian; and AVil- 
liam Cullen Bryant, the poet and author. The de- 
sign was the handiwork of C^alvcrt Vaux and Fred- 
erick Law Olmstead, who originated the science of 
landscape architecture, which became recognized 
throughout the country. The success of their plan 
lay in the fact that they preserved all that was beau- 
tiful in Nature instead of trying to create artificial 
results. 

" In 1856 the first statue of modern New York 
was erected — namely, that of AVashington in Union 
Square; and about the same time a monument was 
placed near ]\radison Square to honor the memory of 
General Worth, of this State, who had distinguished 
himself in the Mexican War. 

" In 1857 two of New York's best-known citizens, 
Cyrus W. Field and Peter Cooper, conceived the idea 
of connecting Europe and America by cable. In 
August, 1858, the connection was actually made, and 
great rejoicing followed. The City llall was illu- 
minated; a big parade, including bands, banners, and 
floats, marched through the streets, and a splendid 
banquet marked the occasion. The Queen sent a 
message of congratulation to President Buchanan, 
to which he replied in the same vein; and then, 
strange to tell, the cable stopped working. Eight 
years of additional and costly experimenting fol- 
lowed ere the wire under water would carry messages 



198 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



satisfactorily. At last, however, success was at- 
tained and two thousand miles of ocean were over- 
come. Three years later, in 18G9, New York and 
San Francisco were joined by the tracks of a great 

railroad, and the two 
ends of the continent, 
three thousand miles 
apart, were linked to- 
gether. 

" But I see we have 
been traveling a little 
too fast. Let me take 
you back to the year 
1861, when the news 
reached l>sew York that 
Fort Sumter had been 
fired upon. Many a 
heartache was caused by 
these tidings. AVas the 
Union, for which Washington and his noble com- 
rades had fought so hard, going to pieces? It 
seemed so. New Yorkers had met and sent ear- 
nest appeals to their brethren in the South, asking 
them to pause and consider, but all to no purpose. 
Now it meant fight, and New York was ready to 
do her share. In April the troops began to leave 
for the front. People who saw the favorite Seventh 
depart, say it was an experience never to be forgot- 
ten. To quote the words of a member of the regi- 
ment : ' It was worth a life, that march. Only one 
who passed, as we did, through that tempest of cheers, 
two miles long, can know the terrible enthusiasm of 




200 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

the occasion. I could hardly hear the rattle of our 
gun carriages, and only once or twice the music of 
our band came to me muffled and quelled by the 
uproar. We knew it now, if we had not before di- 
vined it, that our great city was wdtli us as one man, 
utterly united in the great cause we were marching 
to sustain. This grand fact I learned by two senses. 
If hundreds of persons roared it into my ears, thou- 
sands slapped it into my back. ... So we said 
good-bye to Broadway, moved down Cortlandt Street 
under a bower of flags, and at half past six shoved 
off in a ferryboat.' 

" The place where the Seventh Regiment began 
its existence has been marked by a tablet, which you 
can see at the southwest corner of Fulton and Nassau 
Streets. It reads as follows: 



ON THIS SITE IN THE 

OLD SHAKESPEARE TAVERN 

WAS ORGANIZED 

THE SEVENTH REGIMENT 

NATIONAL GUARD, S. N. Y. 

AUGUST 25, 1824. 



" To help on the cause of the Union, not men 
only but money in abundance w^as forthcoming. 
During the first year jSTew York loaned the Govern- 
ment the astonishing sum of two hundred and ten 
million dollars — over four times as much as all the 
other sections of the country put together. 

" The women of New York also did their share of 
good work. Early in April, 1861, they formed a 




Graut's tomb, Riverside Drive. From a recent photograph. 



202 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

Central Relief Association, and soon thousands of 
women, and even children, were bnsv scraping lint, 
knitting socks, making garments, and preparing deli- 
cacies, while scores of tenderly reared maidens volun- 
teered as nurses. 

" Every war, unfortunately, furnishes its sad me- 
morials. In the hall of the College of the City of 
ISTew York, at Twenty-third Street and Lexington 
Avenue, there is a marble tablet that bears a list of 
names and tells the followino- leaend: 



IN MEMORY 

OF 

THE GRADUATES 

OF THE 

COLLEGE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK 

WHO LOST THEIR LIVES 

IN THE 

SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY 

DURING THE 

WAR FOR THE UNION. 



" I wish the story of the war could end here, 
but truth compels me to tell you of an occurrence 
that will always cause true New- Yorkers to blush 
for the fair record of the city. In 1863 it was 
found necessary, in order to raise troops, to intro- 
duce the draft system, whereby men drew lots that 
decided whether they were to serve or not. Two en- 
rolling offices were established: one in Broadway 
near Twenty-eighth Street, the second at the corner 
of Forty-sixth Street and Third Avenue. A certain 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 203 

element, largely foreign, assisted by ronglis, who 
were ready for any mischief or worse, planned to re- 
sist the draft. From July 13th for four days a series 
of bloody, destructive, and brutal riots took |)lace, in 
which over one thousand persons were killed, a great 
number wounded, and two million doHars' worth of 
property was destroyed. 1'his crowd of lirutes at- 
tacked the police, insulted women, pursued negroes, 
and hanged such as they caught to the nearest lamp 
post. I know of nothing more barbarous that could 
have happened in a land of savages." 

" Was this the only riot that took place in the 
city? " asked George. 

" Unfortunately not," replied the professor. 
" The first distur1)ance of this sort was known as the 
' Doctors' Riot,' which occurred in 1788. The New 
York Hospital, then located in Broadway near Du- 
ane Street, had been completed shortly after the 
Revolutionary AVar, and a small medical school had 
been opened. Rumors that l)odies were being stolen 
from the Potter's Field and dissected, horrified the 
masses, and a mob attacked the doctors. The militia 
had to be called out, and, before order was restored, 
five rioters were killed and eight wounded. The 
year 1834, noteworthy because it marks the granting 
of the right of the citizens to vote for mayor, is also 
known as ' The Year of Riots.' First came an ' Elec- 
tion Riot,' followed by an attack on those who op- 
posed slavery; and then a ' Stonecutters' Riot,' occa- 
sioned by the refusal of workmen to use marble as 
building material. In 1835 jealousy among the 
militia regiments led to a fracas; and in 1837 a 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 205 

' Bread Eiot/ brought about by the high price of 
flour, created trouble aud destruction of property. 
In 1849 the great Astor Place Hiot shocked the com- 
munity. This occurred at a theater that occupied 
the site on which the Mercantile Library is located, 
and was caused by the rivalry of two actors. Ma- 
cready was an Englishman who had been well re- 
ceived in America. Forrest was an American who 
had been insulted in England owing to Macready's 
hostility. In view of this fact, the latter showed 
poor taste in revisiting America, and a number of in- 
dignant citizens decided to show their resentment. 
The demonstration began with groans and hootings 
as soon as Macready appeared, and ended in a riot, 
in which twenty-two lives were sacrificed. 

" But let us turn from mobs and lawlessness and 
consider something worthier of our attention — name- 
ly, our splendid Fire Department. It began its exist- 
ence in 1656, when three ' worshipful ' fire wardens 
were appointed to inspect the wooden chimneys of 
New Amsterdam. Two years later an order was 
divided among the shoemakers of the town to make 
one hundred and twenty-two leathern buckets, which 
were hung up in various places. In 1731 two fire 
engines were ordered in London, and a room in 
the City Hall was set aside for them. The engines 
consisted of boxes on wooden wheels, and handles 
that could be pushed up and dowu. Gradually im- 
proved devices were introduced and volunteer fire 
companies organized. These companies were made 
up of some of the best young men of the town, and 
great rivalry existed among the different organiza- 



206 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

tions, each trying to be first at a fire. Often, col- 
lisions occurred, followed by blows, so tliat instead 
of fighting the flames the firemen fought each other. 
All this was changed in the year 1865, when a paid 
department was established and steam engines were 
introduced. Since then w^e have men trained espe- 
cially for their work, and it is safe to say no braver, 
quicker, or finer force exists anywhere else in the 
world. 




Style of engine used in 1812. From an old print. 

" Most men, you will find, attend to their own 
little affairs, their own particular business, but there 
are a few who think of larger interests. These far- 
sighted individuals are the ones that send the world 
forward. One of these dreamers was William C. 
Kingsley. As far back as 1866 he began to plan a 
great bridge to connect !N^ew York and Brooklyn. 
Both places were growing rapidly, the ferry service 




15 



208 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

was not adequate, a better means of crossing was re- 
quired, Kingsley interested John A. Roebling and 
his son, the engineers, and other influential men. In 
] 870 the w^ork was begun ; the first wire was run over 
in 1876; seven years later the bridge was opened to 
the public, and the same year the first train of cars 
crossed the span. From end to end the bridge meas- 
ures a little more than six thousand five hundred 
feet, and up to date it has cost about twenty million 
dollars. 

" Like one of ISTature's perfect productions its 
beauty grows the more we look at it. As one of our 
poets has said, addressing it: 

" ' Y"ou thrill through all your cords of steel, 
Responsive to the living sun; 
And quickening in your nerves you feel 
Life with its conscious currents run. 

" ' Your anchorage upbears the march 
Of time and the eternal powers; 
The sky admits your perfect arch, 

The rock respects your stable towers.' 

" The year 1866, apparently, was a favorable sea- 
son for dreamers. About the same time that AYil- 
liam C. Kingsley began to think of the possibility of a 
bridge, Andrew H. Green, now known as ' The Fa- 
ther of Greater ISTew York,' saw in his mind's eye the 
union of New York, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and 
the Bronx, and during a period of thirty-two years 
he advocated it whenever he had a chance to do so. 
On January 1, 1898, his dream became a reality, and 
a few months later, on the occasion of his seventy- 
sixth birthday, a gold medal was presented to him 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 209 

at the Citj Hall as a token of appreciation of liis 
services. Associated with him in planning Greater 
New York was James S. T. Stranahan, fondly called 
' Brooklyn's First Citizen/ an active member, too, of 
the committee that designed and bnilt the bridge. 

" The idea of forming the greater city was not 
merely to be able to say that New York has a popnla- 
tion of over three million inhabitants, bnt to unite 
under one head people who really belonged to one 
locality, whose business interests were on Manhattan 
Island, although their homes happened to be beyond 
one of the rivers that surround it. The union, too, 
was meant to stir up the pride and the love of the 
citizens for the greater city, and make it in every 
sense a grand and worthy metropolis. 

" Let me give you an idea of what this new jSTew 
York means. It embraces three hundred and 
twenty square miles, and has a population of three 
million four hundred thousand, making it the second 
city of the world. Its streets measure twelve hun- 
dred miles, it has over five hundred miles of street 
and elevated railroads, contains one hundred and 
sixty-seven thousand buildings, and the assessed 
value of its real estate is over three thousand million 
dollars. Its expenses per year are between eighty 
and eighty-five million dollars. Such has been its de- 
velopment from a curious little Dutch town during a 
period of two hundred and seventy-five years. What 
its size will be when it celebrates its five hundredth 
birthday is almost too much for the imagination, 

" Large figures are always impressive, but good 
works mean infinitely more than great numbers. It 



210 A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 

is satisfying to know that to-day every citizen of Xew 
York has more opportunities of improving his mind 
than the city ever offered before. Art, science, 
music — in fact, every department of knowledge — 
offers him free entrance. His home, his health, his 
safety, his rights — all are more carefully and wisely 
protected than ever in the past. Let him then do his 
full share to help establish a truly Greater iSFew York, 
and he will have the city that all good and loyal citi- 
zens devoutly desire." 



CHAPTER XI 

"We resumed our walks a few davs after hearing 
the '' Eeview of the Nmeteenth Century," as the pro- 
fessor called his last talk, 

" Here is Chelsea Square," said he, leading us 
down Ninth Avenue and turning westward into 
Twentieth Street. 

A few steps farther and we saw one of the most 
picturesque scenes to be found in Xew York — a large, 
beautiful lawn, spreading trees, and a curtain of ivy, 
covering red-brick chapel walls. The church bell 
was ringing, and students in caps and gowns were 
crossing the campus. 

" What is it? " asked Emily, deeply interested. 

" This is the General Theological Seminary of 
the Protestant Episcopal Church, and each one of 
those young men hopes some day to be a bishop." 

'' It doesn't seem like Xew York at all," said 
Emily. 

" In that you agree with Janvier, who has written 
charmingly of old Xew York," remarked the pro- 
fessor. " He says this section carries him in fancy 
across the Atlantic to one of the English university 
towns." 

" Why is it called Chelsea? " asked George. 

211 



212 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

" About the year 1750 Captain Thomas Clarke, 
an American soldier, built a house in this neighbor- 
hood, and, desiring to give it a name that would sug- 
gest rest and quiet, chose Chelsea, having in mind, no 
doubt, the expression used by English military men, 
' Dead as Chelsea.' About the year 1800 the prop- 
erty passed into the hands of Bishop Moore, and a 
dozen years later descended to his son, Clement C. 
Moore. The latter was a genial college professor, 
who published learned books, but his fame rests on a 
little rhyme written at Chelsea for his grandchildren, 
beginning with the well-known line — 

" ' 'Twas the night before Christmas.' 

" Prompted in all likelihood by his father the good 
bishop, Clement C. Moore presented to the seminary, 
free of rent, the whole block it now occupies. The 
corner stone of the first building was laid in 1825. 
At that time the greater part of the lot was open 
ground, and it became known as Chelsea Square." 

" It surely is a beautiful, restful place," said 
Emily. 

We walked around the square, admiring its digni- 
fied halls, the chapel, and the campus, suggesting a 
mixture of church and student life, and entered 
Twenty-third Street, where the professor pointed out 
London Terrace, a row of peculiar but friendly- 
looking houses with deep gardens and tall trees. In 
Twenty-fourth Street we saw the Chelsea cottages, 
cozy two-story boxes, with comfortable bay windows 
and picturesque porches — quite unlike anything else 
one sees in modern ISTew York. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 213 

" Most Xew- Yorkers of to-day are one-sided," 
remarked the professor, as he led us down Eighth 
Avenue — " that is, they are either east-siders or west- 
siders, and know little of the other side of the town. 




Theological Seminary, Twentieth Street and Ninth Avenue. 

It is only by poking your nose into out-of-the-way 
corners that you can discover the landmarks of old 
New York. Here, for instance, is a very interesting 
example," he added, stopping at Twelfth Street. 

" Abingdon Square," said George, glancing at a 
lamp post. 

" This little triangular piece of green is all that is 
left of Greenwich village. Hound about here at 
one time there were beautiful lawns and fine country 
houses; the air w^^s filled with the scent of flowers, 
and near by Manetta * brook tempted the fishermen. 
About the year 1750 Sir Peter Warren, vice-ad- 
miral, having captured many prizes on the high seas, 

* Sometimes spelled Minetta. 



214 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

settled down in Greenwich village, built a fine man- 
sion, and married Miss Susannah De Lancey, a mem- 
ber of the great De Lancey family. Here three 
daughters were born, the oldest of whom became 
the wife of the Earl of Abingdon. After a while 
Warren House and the estate were sold, and this 
square is the only memento we now have of them. 

'' About 1760 Richmond Hill was built. This, 
as you no doubt remember, was used by Washington 
as his headquarters. Later Vice-President Adams 
lived in it; still later Aaron Burr and his gifted 
daughter Theodosia occupied it; and finally John 
Jacob Astor bought it. Subsequently it became a 
theater, then a tavern, and then it was pulled down. 

" The various epidemics of smallpox, cholera, and 
yellow fever that attacked the city at the lower 
end of the island spared the healthy neighbor- 
hood of Greenwich and helped, as you know, to 
build it up. 

" Toward the close of the century a State prison 
was erected at the foot of Tenth Street, and a part of 
the old wall, it is said, still stands, being now a por- 
tion of a brewery. 

" In 1816 a stage line was established connect- 
ing the city of ISTew York wnth the village of Green- 
wich, and the blowing of the horn announcing the 
arrival of the 'bus never failed to cause general ex- 
citement. 

" Here's a description in verse," added the pro- 
fessor, referring to his little book, " that furnishes a 
good picture of the rural charms of this favored 
spot: 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 215 

" ' In those days fair Greenwich village 

Slept by Hudson's rural shore, 
Two miles out from New York city, 

With its bustle, rush, and roar! 
Then great Gotham's " eighty thousand " 

Filled the New World with amaze, 
And the City Hall was building 

"Out of town'' in those "fast" days! 
Then Canal Street was a tide creek. 

Famed for piscatory charms, 
And Broadway a county turnpike 

Winding northward through the farms. 
Then the stage from Greenwich prison 

Drove to Wall Street twice a day — 
Now the somber " Black Maria "' 

Oftener drives the other way! ' 

" Gradiiallj the city began to grow up to the 
village, and then occurred that extraordinary tangle 
of streets of which I have already spoken. Old 
Greenwich, however, resisted the advances of the 
town for a long while, keeping up a sort of excliisive- 
ness of its own. It claimed to be cleaner, nicer, and 
more patriotic than any other part of the island. It 
is said, in fact, that nowhere else were the Fourth of 
July and the Twenty-second of February more en- 
thusiastically celebrated. But now its glory is gone. 
Many of the comfortable-looking three-story brick 
houses, with wrought-iron railings and oval windows 
over low doorways, are still here, but they are no 
longer clean or inviting. There is one relic, how- 
ever, that I want to show you." 

Walking down Tenth Street toward the river we 
soon arrived at AVeehawken Street, and there beheld 
a row of low wooden houses, one or two with outside 
staircases, unlike any other buildings, it is safe to say, 



216 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

DOW to be seen on Manhattan Island. Tliej are rem- 
nants of wliat was known as Upper Greenwich Vil- 
lage, and are nearly three quarters of a century old. 

" They certainly look it," said Tom. 

Passing into Christopher Street and then east- 
ward, we turned into Hudson Street, and walked 
along this broad thoroughfare, noticing the names of 
unfamiliar streets and catching glimpses here and 
there of the smaller and more modest houses that 
suited our grandfathers. 

At Leroy Street we came unexpectedly upon a 
park that looked as if a French garden had been 




A glimpse of Hudson Park, Leroy and Hudson Streets. 



dropped bodily into this New York opening. Here 
was a massive kiosk, gateways, steps, grassy slopes, 
pools, and water jets. Children were romping about, 
and old people were resting on the benches. 

" Isn't it beautiful! " exclaimed Emily. 

"What is it?" asked Tom. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 217 

By way of answer the professor led us along one 
of the pebbly walks to the eastern end of the square 
and showed us a stone memorial suggestive of a coffin, 
on which rest a fireman's hat and implements. It is 
a tribute to some brave fire laddies who lost their 
lives trying to save those of others. 

" Was this a cemetery? " asked George. 

" Read the inscription on the bronze plate," said 
the professor. 

It is as follows: 



IN MEMORIAM. 

THE CITY OF NEW YORK 

DEVOTED TO THE SERVICE AND COMFORT OF THE LIVING 

THIS GROUND, 

FORMERLY USED BY TRINITY PARISH 

AS A BURIAL PLACE FOR THE DEAD, 

WHOSE NAMES, ALTHOUGH NOT INSCRIBED, 

ARE HEREBY REVERENTLY COMMEMORATED. 

A. D. 1898. 



''Dear me! " remarked Emily, a little shocked; 
" then this used to be a graveyard." 

" So were Washington Square, Union Square, and 
Madison Square, and some of the other parks before 
they were turned into resting and breathing places 
for the living." 

"Was Gramercy Park, too?" asked George. 
That neighborhood was of special interest to the 
young people, as they had once lived there. 

" No," replied the professor. " Gramercy Park 
is part of an old farm called by the Dutch Krom- 



218 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

messie, meanmg a crooked knife, tlie form of wliieli 
the farm resembled. In 1831 the present inclosure 
was given to owners of lots fronting it by Samnel B. 
Rnggles. Near the park gate there is a stone which 
tells this story: 



GRAJIERCT 


PARK 


FOUNDED 


BY 


SAMUEL B. RUGGLES | 


1831 




COMMEMORATED BY 


THIS TABLET 


IMBEDDED 


IN 


THE GRAMERCY 


FARM BY 


JOHN RUGGLES 


STRONG 


1875 





" This ground," continued the professor, re- 
calling our attention to the park in which we were 
standing, " was formerly a cheerless old cemetery; 
as Hudson Park it does reverence to the dead and 
brings pleasure to the living." 

" I remember a curious little graveyard over near 
Sixth Avenue," remarked Emily. 

" In Twenty-first Street," added the professor. 
" That is a Jewish burial ground, or ' Place of Rest '; 
it has been there over half a century, and it is cared 
for as zealously to-day as when country fields sur- 
rounded it. There are two other ' Places of Rest ' of 
this kind in the city; the oldest just south of Chat- 
ham Square — one can see it from the Elevated Rail- 
way — and the second at the southeast corner of Elev- 
enth Street and Sixth Avenue. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 219 

'' The subject of parks," continued the professor, 
" is very interesting and important. For many years, 
where they were most needed — that is, in the poorest 
districts — there were few or none ; but now, through 
the efforts of earnest workers, this state of affairs is 
much improved. Lately a breathing phice was 
opened in Mulberry Bend, in the heart of a densely 
packed tenement district, and another near the foot 
of Grand Street. Like Hudson Park, these new 
pleasure squares have been made beautiful as well as 
useful. Within the last few years, also, the river 
front has been used, and fine recreation piers have 
been built that have, no doubt, saved the lives of 
many sick and suffering children." 

We remained here for some time, admiring the 
beauties of the place, and then continued our pilgrim- 
age southward. As we crossed Canal Street, George 
asked : 

" Was this a canal formerly? " 

'' Yes," answered the professor. " It was the 
outlet of Collect Pond, and originally was quite a 
deep stream. The Lidians used it, and their great 
war canoes often passed up and down under the shel- 
ter of its banks. When the city grew up to it, pave- 
ments were laid on l)oth sides, trees and flowers were 
planted, and it presented a far more beautiful ap- 
pearance than it does to-day." 

A few steps brought us to the corner of Varick 
and Laight Streets, where we found the dignified 
front of St. John's church, once a conspicuous and 
beautiful triumph of architecture, but now fairly 
choked by the " commonplace of trade." 



220 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

" In 1803," said the professor, " Trinity erected 
this chapel. At that time it was so far uptown that 
people wondered where the congregation was to 




St. Joliu's chaiicl, Varick Street. 

come from, and in order to attract settlers to its 
vicinity a fine park was laid ont where that ugly 
freight depot now stands. The park was a thing 
of beauty in its day, and soon many of the best 
people of the town moved into the neighborhood. 
Among those who came were the families of Alexan- 
der Hamilton and General Schuyler. Each family 
owned its house and possessed a key that opened the 
massive gates of the park, from which all outsiders 
were rigorously excluded. After a time, however, 
the uptown movement began, the character of the 
place changed, and the old square was deserted; but 
the church, faithful to its trust and unmindful of 
fashion and favorite localities, remained to fulfill its 
duty." 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 221 

"So did St. Paul's and Trinity, did they not?" 
asked George. 

" Yes, and that makes them particiUarly interest- 
ing from a historical point of view," 

A short ride brought us to Broadway and Vesey 
Street, wdiere we entered the gateway of St. Paul's. 

" Why don't they have a door in front? " asked 
Tom. 

" This isn't the front — it's the rear. When the 
church was built, in 1766, Broadway was not of much 
account, while the direction of the Hudson — there 
was a clear view then to the river — was regarded as 
the proper place for the portal. You can imagine 
the effect, after service, of walking out and seeing 
the noble stream flowing by at the foot of a gently 
sloping landscape.'- 

We went into the simple house of worship, looked 
at the many memorials, but were particularly inter- 
ested in two bronze tablets. 

The first, erected in 1889, contains this legend: 



IN COMMEMORATION 

OF 

THE CENTENNIAL OF THE INAUGURATION 

OF 

GEORGE WASHINGTON 

THE 

FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL THIRTIETH MDCCCLXXXIX 

ERECTED BY 

THE AISLE COMMITTEE AT SERVICES 

HELD IN ST. Paul's chapel, n. y. 



222 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 
The second bears this inscription: 



THIS TABLET 


IS ERECTED IN COMMEMORATION OF 


THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY SERVICES 


OF THE 


DEATH OF HIS EXCELLENCY 


GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON 


COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES 


DURING THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION 


OBSERVED AT ST. PAUL's CHAPEL, 


ON THE BROADWAY, NEW YORK 


DECEMBER 14, 1899. 


GENERAL SOCIETY 


SONS OF THE REVOLUTION 


OF THE 


IN THE 


CINCINNATI 


STATE OF NEW YORK 



"■ These two bronze plates," remarked the pro- 
fessor, " are like two milestones on the path of time. 
The one calls attention to the date of AVashington's 
inanguration ; the other, erected ten years later, com- 
memorates his death. The hnndredth anniversary of 
this sad event, which cansed the whole nation to 
mourn, has suggested some lines which you may like 
to know. Here they are: 

" ' Time dims tlie lengthening scroll of fame. 

Year after year the honored tracings fade. 
And many an erstwhile well-remembered name 

Sinks slowly into faint and glimmering shade, 
And is entirely forgot. Not so with thee: 

Thy fame is like the everlasting hill; 
A hnndred years sweep on destroyingly, 

And wreck the work of man, bnt thou art still, 
In spite of time and death, a living power. 

Whose force is felt throughout the broadening land. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 223 

Inspiring nuiltitndes who bless the honr 

That placed the patriots' weal in thy safe hand. 
A century its varying course has run. 
But names thee still the nation's noblest son.' " 

After listening to tins worthy tribute, we passed 
slowly through the chitrchyard, pausing here and 
there to look at an old tombstone, and, reaching the 
Broadway section, stopped in front of the Mont- 
gomery monument. 

" Yon know, of course," said the professor, " that 
Montgomery was one of those brave young officers 
who lost their lives in the Revolutionary War. He 
was born in Ireland in 173G, and assisted in the ca})- 
ture of Quebec in 1759. Just before the war he 
bought a beautiful estate on the Hudson, married a 
daughter of llobert R. Livingston, and looked for- 
ward to a life of peaceful liapi)incss. But when the 
patriot cause called, he answered at once. He led 
an army into Canada, captured ^Montreal, and on 
the last day of the year 1775, in the midst of a blind- 
ing snowstorm, attempted to take Quel)ec. Placing 
himself at the head of his troo]:)s, and shouting, ' Men 
of New York, you will not fear to follow where your 
general leads — march on! ' he fell, mortally wound- 
ed. His remains were interred with honor in Que- 
bec, and rested there imtil 1818, when tlie State of 
ISTew York had them transferred to St. Paul's. A 
special boat covered with enddems of mourning 
conveyed the body down the Hudson. Slowly it 
passed his beloved country scat, the strains of a sad 
dirge rising softly to the porch where sat his widow, 
quite alone, gazing down upon the coffin of her hero. 
16 




Moutgomery's tomb, St. Paul's church. Photographed 1900. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 225 

Who will describe lier feelings as that strange fu- 
neral boat drifted along before her tear-dimmed 
eyes? AVlien her friends came to get her they found 
her lying prostrate in a swoon. 

" Two other noble Irishmen are honored here," 
continued the professor. '' That shaft to the left 
bears the name of Thomas Addis Emmet, and the 
one to the right that of William James MacXeven. 
These two distinguished men were leaders in the 
movement begun in 1795 to free Ireland. They 
came here about 1804 and won distinction, the first 
as a lawyer and the second as a physician. The in- 
scription on MadSTeven's monument must touch the 
patriotic spirit of every true American. ' In the 
cause of his native land,' " read the professor, " ' he 
sacrificed the bright prospects of his youtli^ till in 
America he found a country ^vllich he loved as truly 
as he did the land of his l)irtli.' " 

" How interesting everything becomes when you 
know something about it! " remarked Emily, as we 
walked down Broadway toward Trinity. 

" Yes, and it makes you like things you never 
cared about before," added Tom. 

" How old is Trinity? " asked George. 

" The first Trinity was dedicated in 1697, en- 
larged in 1737, and destroyed by the great fire of 
1776. The second church was dedicated in 1790, in 
the presence of Washington, and for nearly fifty 
years served the congregation. In 1839 it was 
deemed unsafe and was pulled down, the present fine 
structure being completed in 1846. 

" Trinity may properly be called a mother of 




Triuity church. From a recent photograph. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 227 

churches, for to its aid and influence no less than 
fifty places of worship owe their existence, not to 
mention three colleges and several other public in- 
stitutions." 

" Look at these beautiful bronze doors," said 
Emily; " they are quite new." 

" Yes, they were given a few years ago in mem- 
ory of John Jacob Astor," explained the professor. 
" There is one at the south side entrance that I think 
will specially interest you." 

Here we saw the fine tablets representing 
" Henry Hudson off Manhattan Island," " Washing- 
ton at St. Paul's in 1789," and " The Consecration of 
Trinity in 1846." Entering the church, we re- 
mained some little time under its noble arches, im- 




Hamiltoii's tomb. 



pressed by the sacred quietness that reigned within, 
while out of doors all was hurry and bustle. 

"Where is Hamilton's tomb?" at length asked 
George. 

A few steps brought us to the simple monument 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 229 

in the cliureliyard, and here we read this inscrip- 
tion: 



THE PATRIOT OF INCORRUPTIBLE INTEGRITY, 

THE SOLDIER OF APPROVED VALOR, 

THE STATESMAN OF CONSUMMATE WISDOM, 

WHOSE TALENTS AND VIRTUES WILL BE ADMIRED 

BY 

GRATEFUL POSTERITY 

LONG AFTER THIS MARBLE SHALL HAVE MOULDERED INTO DUST. 



Wandering about we found many names that we 
recognized, such as De Lancey, Duane, and Beekman, 
which Tom remarked made him think of street signs. 

xVll at once Emily beckoned to us and pointed to 
these tender words: 

" Here a pretty baby lyes, 
Sung to sleep with lullabys; 
Pray be silent, and not stirre 
The easie earth that covers her." 

Then George calh'd our attention to a newdook- 
ing stone over the grave of "William Bradford, the 
first printer, which contains this verse: 

"Reader, reflect how soon you'll quit this stage; 
You'll find but few attain to such an Age. 
Life's full of Pain, Lo here's a Place of Rest, 
Prepare to meet your God. then you are blest." 

A footnote calls attention to the fact that the origi- 
nal stone is in the rooms of the Xew York Historical 
Society. 

" Charlotte Temple," said Emily, reading the 
name on a plain slab lying flat on the ground. 



230 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

" The Slii'iue of Unliaiipy Love," added the pro- 
fessor. " Many people come here and drop a tear or 
a flower for poor Charlotte. The story is that she 
left her home in England and came here with an 
army officer, and that he then deserted her, leaving 
her to die in misery and poverty. A romance has 
been written telling the whole nnhappy story, but 
whether it is true or not, and whether there ever was 
a Charlotte Temple, is a mystery that has not been 
solved." 

Emily lingered for a time, but we wandered on, 
noting where Albert Gallatin, the great financier, 
lies at rest; where Robert Fulton is buried in the 
Livingston vault, and where the gallant General 
Kearny, who fell in Virginia in 1862, is interred. 
Li this neighborhood stands the bronze statue of Dr. 
John Watts, first Judge of Westchester County, and 
founder of the Leake and AVatts Orphan House; 
and near the Broadway entrance is the tomb of Caj)- 
tain James Lawrence, the heroic commander of the 
Chesapeake, who, dying, spoke those undying words, 
" Don't give up the ship ! " 

" We haven't looked at that big monument," re- 
marked Tom, pointing in the direction of the soldiers' 
memorial. 

When we reached it we found this inscription: 



8ACRKD TO THE MEMORY OF 

THOSE BRAVE AND GOOD MEN WHO DIED 

WHILST IMPRISONED IN THIS CITY. FOR THEIR DEVOTION TO THE 

CAUSE OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 231 

" Whenever I think of this fitting remembrance 
of unknown heroes," said the professor, " I can not 
helj) picturing to myself the suiferings of those un- 
fortunates who died in the sugar houses and on the 
terrible prison ships. For some reason the design 
has never been completed, the original intention hav- 
ing been to place the marble figure of a Continental 
soldier above the inscription. Do 3'ou notice, by the 
way, that the monimient is directly opposite Pine 
Street? It was so placed, it is said, to prevent the 
city from cutting a street through the churchyard. 

" There is a newer memorial that also honors 
the heroes of the Revolution," continued our guide. 
" It was erected April 25, 1900, in the Dutch Col- 
legiate Church at Fifth Avenue and Forty-eighth 
Street by the Daughters of the Revolution. Its text 
is as follows: 



IN HONOR OF THE 

OFFICERS, SOLDIERS AND SAILORS 

WHO SERVED 

IN THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE 

AGAINST 

GREAT BRITAIN, 

1775-1783. 

ERECTED BY THE 

DAUGHTERS OF THE REVOLUTION 

OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 



"VVe spent some more time looking at the well- 
kept graves around us, and ere we left, the professor 
read to us the following lines: 



232 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

"■ Where the pulse of Wall Street beats, 

Where the money changers go; 
Where along the noisy streets 

Runs the life tide, to and fro — 
Busy life of old Broadway, 

With its restless human sea — 
Here I stop and muse to-day. 

By the graves of Trinity. 

" Those beneath these quiet stones 

One unending Sabbath keep. 
And the great wheels jar their bones. 

But they may not mar their sleep. 
And they murmur not at all. 

Morning, noon, and night-time pass, 
Rain and sun, and snow-Hake fall, 

Careless footsteps tread the grass. 

" Childish fingers press the graves, 

But these peaceful sleepers lie, 
(What a worry dying saves!) 

Quiet under every sky. 
Twittering bird and whispering elm! 

Bird and dead man, each care free — 
Here's long peace to both of them. 

Citizens of Trinity! " 



CHAPTER XII 

Sauxteeixg out of Trinity's grounds and join- 
ing the busy throng that hurries daily past the okl 
graveyard, we walked down Broadway, and halted 
a moment at Exchange Place to admire the bronze 
figure of Wolfe, who saved New York from the 
French; and that of Clinton, who built its great 
canal. 

On the west side of Broadway, at Xo. 55, there 
is a narrow passage between the high buildings. It 
was known long ago as Tin Pot Alley, and a modern 
terra-cotta tablet recalls the fact to those who pass 
it in our day. 

" Curious name, isn't it? " commented Tom. 

" Yes," replied the professor, " the English had a 
queer way of designating some of their streets. 
]\Iarketfield, which the Produce Exchange almost en- 
tirely covers, was known as Petticoat Lane, because 
it contained the residences of some of the people of 
fashion; Xassau Street was originally referred to 
as 'The Streete that leads by the Pye ^Voman's'; 
Whitehall was called Shop Street; William, the 
Glassmaker's Street; Eulton, Partition Street; and 
Duane, Barley Street." 

" Why, here's an old cannon," remarked Ceorge, 

233 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 235 

pointing to one that serves as a post in front of 
No. 55 Broadway. 

" A Revolutionary relic," explained the professor. 

Opposite Bowling Green we cast a parting look 
at the old steamship buildings which, since our first 
visit, had been sold to the Government to make room 
for a new Customhouse. 

Then we entered Battery Park, which, as the pro- 
fessor reminded us, was almost entirely made land, 
filled in over the shallow and rocky ground that was 
once sw^ept by the tide. 

"■ In the early part of the present century," he 
continued, " many tine mansions occupied State 
Street, Battery Place, Whitehall Street, Bowling 
Green, and the lower end of Broadway. A reminis- 
cence of those days is that old-fashioned but still ele- 
gant house over yonder on State Street, which bears, 
as you see, the sign of a Roman Catholic mission. 
For many years Battery Park was a fashioiuible 
promenade, and presented a gay scene on pleasant 
afternoons. 

" But here we are at the Aquarium, originally 
called Castle Clinton, in honor of ]\[ayor De AVitt 
Clinton. It M'as one of the fortifications erected in 
1812, and still shows, as you perceive, the old port 
holes, where once fierce cannons peered out. After 
a time it ^vas changed to a place of amusement, and 
then became known as Castle Garden. Here Lafa- 
yette was tendered an enthusiastic reception in 1824. 
Ten years later, when news came of his death, a me- 
morial service was held in the same place. Here 
President Jackson was received in 1832, here Web- 



236 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

ster delivered some of his great speeches, and here 
in 1845 President Tyler was entertained. In 1851 




Old mansion in State Street. Photographed 1900. 

a great demonstration took place within its walls, 
wdien Lonis Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot, visited 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 237 

these shores. Later an Italian opera was heard here, 
and Jenny Lind, the ' Swedish ISJ^ightingale/ made 
her first American appearance nnder its roof. In 
1855 all was changed, and it became a United States 
immigrant depot, which pnrpose it served nntil 1891, 
when it was turned over to the city, and was gradu- 
ally made ready for its present purpose." 

We spent a pleasant half hour within its walls 
and then paused near the water's edge to admire Bar- 
tholdi's Statue of Liberty. 

" Of course," said the professor, " you know that 
yonder remarkable end)lem was the gift of the 
French Eepublic, and was intended to express the 
cordial feeling existing between itself and our own 
republic. How this symbol of freedom and friend- 
ship would gladden the heart of Lafayette could he 
return now to see it! The forearm was sent to 
America in 1870, and was shown at the Centennial 
Exhibition in Philadelphia. Then it reposed in 
Madison Square until 1886, when the completed 
figure was placed upon its pedestal. It is interest- 
ing to know that the tip of the torch is three hundred 
and six feet above the water level, and that forty peo- 
ple can comfortably stand in Lil)erty's head. It is 
safe to say that no other harbor in the world has so 
striking, so significant, and so beautiful, a symbol to 
greet the returning citizen or welcome the new 
arrival. 

" Here is a sonnet written by Emma Lazarus, of 
'New York," said the professor, consulting his little 
book, " that contains some beautiful thoughts re- 
garding Liberty Statue : 



238 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

" ' Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, 

With conquering limbs astride from land to land; 
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand 
A mighty woman with a torch, whose Hame 




Statue of Liberty. 

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name 
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon hand 
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command 
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. 
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp! " cries she 
With silent lips. " Give me your tired, your poor, 
Y'our huddled masses yearning to breathe free, 
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 239 



Send tliese, the homeless, tempest-tost, to me; 
I lift my lamp beside the golden door! "' 

" It is perhaps hardly fair, after looking at this 
great figure of Liberty, to turn to a small statue, but 
Captain Ericsson, I think, will not suffer. It has 
been said that no greater engineer ever lived. He 
was born in Sweden in 1803, and came here in 
1839. A list of one hundred important inventions 
is the record Ericsson has left behind him, more 
than one for every one of his eighty-six years 
of life. The best known, of course, is the Monitor 
— that wonderful machine that saved the Union. 
He oifered his plan to the Government, and, like 
Fulton, was laughed at by those who ought to 
have known better. Fortunately, some few lis- 
tened, understood, and won him the opportunity to 
serve, without pay of any kind, the country he had 
learned to love. 

" Note the four plates that show his principal 
works — the Monitor, the Steam Fire Engine, the Ro- 
tary Gun Carriage, and the Princeton, the pioneer 
ship of our steam marine." 

" And here is a tablet," said George, reading the 
inscription: 



THE CITY OF NEW YORK 

ERECTS Tins STATUE TO THE 

MEMORY OF A CITIZEN WHOSE 

GENIUS HAS CONTRIBUTED 

TO THE GREATNESS OF THE 

REPUBLIC AND TO THE 

PROGRESS OF THE WORLD. 

APRIL 20, 1893. 



240 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

Leaving Battery Park and entering Broadway, 
whicli we were never tired of following, with its in- 
teresting landmarks and its busy modern life, we 
noticed, at the entrance of Xo. 19, two fine stone 
lions, and learned that this was once the residence of 
Daniel Webster. 

Our next stopping place was the corner of Pearl 
and Broad Streets. 




Frauuces's Tavern. From a ret'ent photograph. 

" Do you see that building? " said the professor, 
pointing to the southeast corner; " that is a genuine 
old-timer." 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 241 

" Fraimces's Tavern," read Emily, glancing at 
the words painted in big letters above a restaurant. 
" ' The Oldest Landmark in the City; Washington 
Long Room.' " 

'■^ What does it mean? " asked Tom. 

" It was a famous tavern, erected in 1730, and 
there, somewhat altered, it still stands, being, with- 
out doubt, one of the oldest buildings in the city. 
Taverns, in the time of colonial Xcw^ York, were 
popular meeting places, and many important and in- 
teresting gatherings took place in their * long rooms,' 
as they were called. Before we go let us look at the 
tablet on the Broad Street side." 

We found it easily, and George as usual read the 
inscription : 



FRAUNCES TAVERN — TO THIS BCILDIXG 

GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON 

CAME EVACUATION DAY, NOV. 25, 1783, 

AND ON THURSDAY, DEC. 4th 

FOLLOWING, HERE TOOK LEAVE OF THE PRINCIPAL 

OFFICERS OF THE ARMY YET IN SERVICE. 

ERECTED BY THE SONS OF THE REVOLUTION. 



" Can we see the Long Room'^ " asked Emily. 

" Certainly," responded the professor, leading us 
up a short flight of steps to a very modern eating 
room. A pleasant-looking lady greeted our guide, as 
if she knew his errand, and showed us a round ma- 
hogany table, a cupboard, and some old bricks, all of 
which she said were relics of Frauncos's Tavern. The 
pictures and inscriptions hanging on the walls, refer- 



242 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

ring to historical events, immediately attracted our 
attention, and gave the place an interesting air. 

At Exchange Place we paused and looked up the 
steep incline of this narrow lane. 

" In 1825," said the professor, " a fine building 
known as the Merchants' Exchange was erected here 
at the corner of Broad Street and Exchange Place, 
but before this time business men used to meet here; 
and a law was passed in the early days forbidding 
boys to coast down this hill during certain hours, so 
as not to upset merchants who gathered daily in this 
neighborhood." 

We had a good laugh at the picture suggested 
by the probable results of such coasting expeditions, 
and then turned our steps toward AVall Street, and 
paused, to use Stedman's words — 

" Just where the Treasury's marble front 

Looks over Wall Street's mingled nations; 
Where Jews and Gentiles most are wont 

To throng for trade and last quotations; 
Where, hour by hour, the rates of gold 

Outrival, in the ears of people 
The quarter-chimes, serenely tolled, 

From Trinity's undaunted steeple." 

Before us was the splendid statue of Washington, 
and the following inscription: 



ON THIS SITE IN FEDERAL HALL 
APRIL 30, 1789, 

GEORGE WASHINGTON 

TOOK THE OATH AS THE FIRST PRESIDENT 

OF THE UNITED STATES 

OF AMERICA. 




statue of Wasliiiigtoii, SulitrciiMny Building. Custonihousc beyond. 
From a recent pliotograpli. 



2J:4 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

"This is sacred ground," said tlie professor; "it 
is the precious spot where the union of the States was 
officially cemented by inaugurating the first Presi- 
dent. From that moment the glorious career of the 
United States began, and, as I trust you will always 
remember, the ceremony that meant so much in our 
history, took place right here in ISTew York. 

" The whole neighborhood is interesting. As 
you know, this site was once occupied by Federal 
Hall; then it served as the location of the Custom- 
house; and now it is the Subtreasury. ISText to it 
is the Assay Office, and on the next block, where you 
see those twelve single-stone granite columns, is the 
present Customhouse (formerly a Merchants' Ex- 
change), which is soon to have a new home where the 
old Dutch fort used to be. 

" Many imjDortant meetings have been held in 
this vicinity. On that awful day in April, 1865, 
when news reached New York that the great, good, 
and gentle Lincoln had been struck down by an as- 
sassin, throngs of excited men filled Wall Street. At 
noon a sort of mass meeting was organized, and from 
these steps of the Subtreasury solemn and eloquent 
speeches were delivered. iVmong those who spoke 
was James A. Garfield, who, little dreaming what the 
future had in store for him, sixteen years later met a 
similar fate. 

" On IS^ovember 25, 1883, the hundredth anniver- 
sary of the evacuation of the city by the British was 
celebrated on a grand scale. It was on this occasion 
that this statue of Washington was erected. It was 
unveiled by Governor Cleveland, accepted on behalf 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 245 



of tlie United States 
by President Arthur, 
after which an ora- 
tion was dehvered by 
George William Cur- 
tis." 

" I know of an- 
other statue of Wash- 
ington in Riverside 
Park," remarked Em- 

" Yes, near Eighty- 
eighth Street. That is 
a copy of a well-kno^^•n 
statue in Kichmond, 
designed by Houdon, 
a celebrated French 
sculptor, who was a 
friend of Franklin and 
of Washington. It 
may he news to you 
that the Riverside 
bronze was a gift of 
the children of the 
public schools of this 
city. 

'' You have prob- 
ably noticed," contin- 
ued the professor, 
pointing to AVashing- 
ton's form above us, 
" that there is a sec- 




statue of Washington, Eighty-ninth 
Street and Riverside Drive. Pho- 
tographed 1900. It bears this 
inscription : 



A TRIBUTE 

FROM 

THE PUPILS 

OF THE 

PUBI.IC SCHOOLS 

OF 

THE CITY OF NEW YORK 



240 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

Olid inscription here, stating that the statue was 
erected by voluntary subscriptions under the aus- 
pices of the Chamber of Commerce. That com- 
mercial body is a very old institution. It was 
organized in 1770, and its early meetings were in 
Fraunces's Tavern. The most prominent men of the 
city joined it, but, owing to the Revolution, little was 
accomplished during its first years. It kept alive, 
however, and to-day it comprises a fine body of men 
who help to secure good laws, seek to amend bad 
ones, aid communities all over the world who suffer 
from floods, fire, or famine, and originate and lead 
many a worthy public and patriotic movement. 
Their rooms are near by, and are well worth a visit." 

In the Mutual Life Building, which occupies the 
site of the old Dutch Church, and the old Post Office, 
we found the spacious quarters of the Chaml)er of 
Commerce, and saw its magnificent collection of por- 
trait paintings, representing more than one hundred 
men of note. We were particularly interested in 
the well-known full-length picture of Hamilton, by 
Trumbull; and in the group, called "Planning the 
First Ocean Cable," by Huntington, in which the 
forms of Cyrus W. Field, Peter Cooper, and Samuel 
F. B. Morse are specially noticeable. 

"In 1889, the Federal Union having reached its 
Inmdredth birthday, the people of Xew York made 
up their minds to celebrate the event in a manner 
befitting the remarkaljle growth and the wonderful 
prosperity of the country, as well as the em'nent suc- 
cess of our form of government. One feature of 
this celebration was a reproduction, as nearly as pos- 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 247 

sible, of Washington's journey to New York in 1789. 
President Harrison left the capital by train early on 
April 29th, and reaching Elizabethport boarded a dis- 
patch boat that brought him opposite Wall Street, in 
the East River. Thence a barge, rowed by twelve 
pilots, conveyed him to the landing place, where the 
governor and the mayor received him and escorted 
him to the City Hall, to take part in a reception. 
The next day he attended service at St. Paul's, just 
as Washington had done a hundred years before. In 
the afternoon, on a large platform erected in front 
of old Federal Hall, the President sat in a chair used 
by Washington, and, surrounded by a notable gather- 
ing of distinguished men, listened to an ode entitled 
' The Vow of Washington,' written by John G. AVhit- 
ticr, and to an oration delivered by Chauncey M. 
Depew. 

" Parades, illuminations, banquets, speeches, mu- 
sic, and other forms of rejoicing made up the pro- 
gramme of a three days' jubilee, a memento of which 
remains in the shape of the noble marble arch in 
Washington Square. Thus the second century of 
the republic was begun. 

" Three years later the four hundredth anniver- 
sary of the discovery of America was fittingly ob- 
served by ISTew York in a celebration that began 
October 8th and ended October 12th, with the un- 
veiling of the beautiful Columbus Column at Eighth 
Avenue and Eifty-ninth Street, a gift to the city by 
its Italian citizens. 

" But we have been wandering," remarked the 
professor; "let us return to Washington and the 




> 



(^^^l^^j^;,;^^,Su;^f,il^,SI^^^ 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 249 

year 1789. Do you remember where liis New York 
house was located? " 

" In Cherry Street," answered George. 

" Correct. I presume you have never taken a 
look at that street, which was once an aristocratic 
neighborhood and is historically interesting. We 
can go there now." 

As we were passing through William Street be- 
tween John and Fulton, the professor informed us 
that Washington Irving was born there. 

" A few months before the British evacuated New 
York, in April, 1783, he opened his eyes upon a 
world that was to bring him fame and honor. Natu- 
rally enough, his mother named him after the most 
popular man of the day. Six years later, a Scotch 
maid servant, having young Washington in charge, 
saw the President and followed him into a shop. 
Presenting the lad to the great man, she said ex- 
citedly, * Please, your Honor, here's a bairn was 
named after you.' The grave Virginian, so the story 
goes, placed his hand on the boy's head and gave him 
his blessing, little dreaming that he was doing a gra- 
cious act to his future biographer." 

" Was he born over there? " asked Emily, point- 
ing to two old houses on the east side of the street. 

"No; his birthplace was pulled down some time 
ago. It is quite possible, though, that the two resi- 
dences across the way were here in Irving's boyhood 
days; in fact, some people claim that they are the 
oldest houses in the city." 

"Why is this called William Street?" asked 
George. 











Columbus Columu, Fil'ty-iiinth Street and Eighth Avenue. 
From a recent photograph. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 251 

" After "William Beekman, in whose honor Beek- 
man Street was likewise named. He owned a large 
tract of land in this neighborhood, a portion of which 
was a swamp. The leather trade now occupies this 
section, which is still known as The Swamp." 

Beaching the bridge, we walked eastward and 
soon reached the junction of Jacob and Frankfort 
Streets. 

" We are now on ground that used to belong to 
Leisler," explained the professor. " Jacob was his 
first name, and Frankfort the city of his birth, both 
of which are here perpetuated." 

Our next halting place was the pier of the bridge 
at Cherry Street, where we found a new tablet con- 
taining this inscription : 



THE FIRST 

PRESIDENTIAL MANSION 

NO. 1 CHERRY ST., 

OCCUPIED BY 

GEORGE WASHINGTON 

FROM APRIL 23, 1789, 

TO FEBRUARY 23, 1790. 

ERECTED BY THE MARY WASHINGTON COLONIAL CHAPTER 

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 



We took a peep down Cherry Street, but its ap- 
pearance did not tempt us to linger, and we pro- 
ceeded to Bose Street, where at the corner of Duane 
the modern Bhinelandcr Building stands on the site 
of the old Bhinelander sugar house. 

" Here is a curious reminiscence of the time when 



252 A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 

the British held N^ew York during the Revolution," 
said the jDrofessor, pointing to a small barred window 
to the left of the entrance, '^ That is a relic of the 
original sugar house. Through those rusty iron bars 
many a poor suffering patriot soldier looked out and 
sighed for freedom or perhaps for death. 

" We are not far from another old prison that I 
promised to show you," continued the professor; 
" the old Provost, now the Hall of Records, the con- 
tents of which, by the w^ay, are soon to be transferred 
to a fine new building." 

Reaching City Hall Park, we entered the struc- 
ture where once the wicked provost marshal Cun- 
ningham ruled with brutal sway. We examined the 
dark dungeons in the cellar, and then visited the 
upper floor, sarcastically called Congress Hall, where 
Ethan Allen and other distinguished prisoners were 
kept. There are many interesting and valuable 
maps stored here at present, and a vast collection of 
real-estate records, the earliest in the full, round 
handwriting of the Dutch. 

"Whose statue is that?" asked Emily, as we 
emerged from the Hall of Records and faced Printing 
House Square and its great newspaper buildings, where 
the pen and the press perform their mighty functions. 

" That is Benjamin Franklin, who, as you know, 
began life as a printer, and so is in appropriate sur- 
roundings here; and just beyond, in front of the 
Tribune Building, is the figure of Horace Greeley. 
Some day, no doubt, the other pioneer newsi3aper 
founders will be similarly honored. 

" You remember, no doubt," continued the pro- 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 253 

fessor, " that this is the old Common where the lib- 
erty-pole struggles took place, and where the people 
met to discuss the actions that affected their rights. 
And now, after more than a hundred years, it is 
still the meeting ground of the citizens' representa- 
tives, where laws are made and the city's interests 
are guarded." 

Following our guide we mounted the broad flight 
of steps that leads to the entrance of the City Hall, 
and began our tour of the building by visiting the 
governor's room, the scene of many state occasions. 
Here we found a number of interesting objects: the 
desks of Washington, Adams, and Jeft'erson, and 
some of the original furniture used in old Federal 
Hall, on which is carved the national coat of arms; 
portraits of many distinguished patriots, including 
Washington, Hamilton, and most of the Governors 
of jSTew York; also a painting of Peter Stuyvesant, 
and off in one corner the little twig that once formed 
a portion of his famous pear tree. 

" Can we see where they make the laws? " asked 
Emily. 

"Certainly," answered the professor; "every 
citizen has a right to come here and see what those 
who represent him are doing — it ought, in fact, to be 
called Citizens' Hall. There are two kinds of rep- 
resentatives: councilmen, or members of the upper 
house, elected for four years; and aldermen, or mem- 
bers of the lower house, elected for two years. 
There are twenty-eight councilmen and sixty alder- 
men, each councilman, therefore, representing a 
larger district than that of an alderman. 







3 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 255 

" Properly speaking, the measures passed by the 
two houses are called ordinances or resolutions. Ac- 
cording to their character, they require the votes of 
a majority, three qiuirters, four fifths, or of all the 
members of both houses. Then they are subndtted 
to the mayor, who has ten days in wdiich to approve 
or veto. In case he does not desire to do either, he 
can allow ten days to pass, and then the bill becomes 
eifective. Even after his veto a measure may be 
put in operation if the two houses pass it again by 
a vote of two thirds, or of five sixths in case the ex- 
penditure of money is involved. 

" As you can see, the mayor has great power. 
It is his province, furthermore, to see that ordi- 
nances are executed. lie also has the right to ap- 
point a number of important officials, and to re- 
move them. 

" You now know about tlio legislative and the 
executive branches; the third is the judicial, com- 
posed of civil justices, city nuigistrates, and coroners, 
why apply the law, see that justice is done, that rights 
are respected, and law-breakers punished. 

" But this is not all that the city undertakes to do. 
It protects us against bodily violence by furnishing 
the Police Department; against fire, by providing the 
Fire Department; against disease, by giving us the 
Health Department; it educates us in its public 
schools, and lays out for our pleasure p\d)lic parks 
and recreation piers. To keep this vast machinery 
going, and to raise the necessary funds, in the shape 
of taxes, necessitates other departments, of which you 
will learn as you grow older." 
18 



256 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

Having liad tins explanation we visited the Coun- 
cil Chamber and the Aldermen's Iloom, both of 
which are impressive, and contain interesting por- 
trait paintings. We also inspected the mayor's of- 
fice, the City Library, and finally the Marriage 
Room, which is the smallest and simplest of all. 

Emerging from the building and descending the 
steps, we turned our attention to a tablet differing 
from all the others we had seen, in that it was sunk 
into the pavement. We knew, from accounts we had 
read, that it referred to the Underground Railway, 
and we were particularly interested in it because it 
commemorated an undertaking of our own time, the 
progress of which we were eagerly watching from 
day to day. The inscription is as follows: 



AT THIS PLACE, 24Tn MARCH, ]!1()(), 

HON. ROBERT A. VAN WYCK 

MADE THE FIRST EXCAVATION FOR THE 

UNDERGROUND RAILWAY. 

RAPID TRANSIT COMMISSION. 
A. E. ORR, PRESIDENT. CHARLES STEWART SMITH, 

JOHN H. STARIN. MORRIS K. JESUP, 

WOODBURY LANGDON, R. A. VAN WY'CK, MAYOR. 

GEORGE L. RIVES, BIRD S. COLER, CONTROLLER, 

WILLIAM BARCLAY PARSONS, 
CHIEF ENGINEER. 



CONTRACTORS. 

JOHN B. MCDONALD, 

RAPID TRANSIT SUBWAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY". 

AUGUST BELMONT, 

PRESIDENT. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 257 

" And so ends the story/' remarked the pro- 
fessor. 

The young people began to express their thanks, 
but the professor interrupted their little speeches by 
saying: " You have thanked me long ago. The ap- 
preciation you have shown was a very satisfactory 
reward for the trouble I have taken. 1 vas aware 
from the beginning that you were proud of your city 
and loved it, and now that you know its huidmarks 
and their history, I feel certain that it has a deeper 
hold on your affections than before. You under- 
stand, too, what the city owes you; remember, like- 
wise, what you owe the c-ity. See to it, when the 
time comes, that you do your duty, help to select and 
to elect the right kind of officials, and devote some 
time and make some individual effort to render the 
city better, wiser, ha})pier, healthier, and more beau- 
tiful as you grow up with it." 



ORIGm OF STREET NAMES 

Abingdon Sijiiarc owes its name to the Earl of Abingdon, 
who married one of the daughters of Sir Peter Warren, the 
founder of Greenwich. (See Greenwich Street.) 

Allrn Street perpetuates the name and fame of Captain 
William Henry Allen, one of the heroes of the War of 1S12. 
He was only twenty-nine when he died, but left behind him a 
brilliant record. 

Ann Street. — Owners of land frequently bestowed on paths 
that were cut through their property the first names of their 
wives. 

Andiihon Aienne recalls the name of the celebrated ornitholo- 
gist, John James Audubon. 

Bank Street owes its title to a fever epidemic that broke out 
in New York in 1822, when many people hurriedly left town. 
A row of hastily erected buildings, principally used by banks, 
was then built in the vicinity of the present thoroughfare. 

Barvhti/ Street, cut through church property, perpetuates the 
name of the Rev. Henry Barclay, the second rector of Trinity 
Church. 

Battery Place is a reminder of the fact that in 1693 a plat- 
form was erected in this vicinity to serve as a battery. In 1753 
this was enlarged. 

Bayard Street preserves the name of Nicholas Bayard, 
nephew of Peter Stuyvesant, M'ho played an important part 
in the early history of the city, especially during the Leisler 
troubles. He filled the position of mayor and occupied other 
official posts. The Bayard farm lay between Canal and Bleecker 
Streets and between Macdougal Street and the Bowery. 

Beach Street, a corruption of Bache Sti'cet. was named in 
honor of Paul Bache, a son-in-law of Anthony Lispenard. (See 
Lispenard Street.) 

Beaver Street was a very appropriate name for a thoroughfare 

258 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 259 

in old New York, especially as it happened to be a fur district. 
The beaver played an important part in New Amsterdam's early 
history. Van der Donk, one of the first to write a description 
of the colony, devoted special attention to " the wonderful char- 
acter and habits of the beavers." 

Bciknian Street is a part of the old Beekman farm, and 
honors the name of William Beekman, who came to New Nether- 
land with Peter Stuyvesant and soon became prominent. The 
Beekman farm extended about a block north and south of the 
present Beekman Street, and from Nassau Street over to the 
East River. (See William Street.) 

Benson Street recalls the name of Judge Egbert Benson, the 
first President of the New York Historical Society. 

Bethune Street honors the name of the Bethune family, note- 
worthy philanthropists, whose work was of special significance 
in connection with the improvement of the Five Points. 

Bleevker Street recalls the name of the Bleecker family, and 
especially of Anthony Bleecker, who for many years was active 
and prominent in the literary world. 

Boicenj, in Dutch, means a farm. From Stuyvesanfs Sou- 
iverie, in the neighborhood of Third Avenue and Thirteenth 
Street to the city there was a path naturally called Bowery 
Lane. This was afterward named Bowery Road, and finally 
The Bowery. 

Boiding Green owes its name to the fact that in 1732 it was 
leased as a bowling green to three citizens who lived in the 
neighborliood. 

Briilije Street locates a bridge that at one time crossed the 
Broad Street ditch. 

Broad Street was originally a ditch or inlet, known as the 
Breede Graft, or Broad Canal. 

Broome Street was named after John Broome, Lieutenant- 
Governor of New York State in 1S04, and a prominent member 
of many commercial and charitable institutions. 

Canal Street was originally a real canal — forty feet wide, 
with a promenade and trees on each side of it. It carried the 
water from the old Collect Pond to the Hudson River. A stone 
bridge crossed it at Broadway, and this is now below the pave- 
ment of that busy thoroughfare. 

Cedar Street and other streets bearing the names of trees 
suggest the wooded character of Manhattan Island during its 
early period. 

Centre Street indicates its location midway between the 



260 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

Hudson and East Rivers. Another explanation attributes the 
name to the fact that the street marks a path tlirough the cen- 
ter of the old Collect Pond. 

C]iu)iihe)'S Street owes its name to Jolm Chambers, a promi- 
nent lawyer and one of the otticers of Trinity Church. 

Charlton Street directs attention to Ur. John Charlton, an 
English surgeon, who came to New York with the British army, 
but liked the city well enough to settle here, becoming President 
of the Medical Society. 

Cltutliain Square, as well as Pitt Street, perpetuates the 
name of America's devoted and eloquent friend, William Pitt, 
Earl of Chatham. 

Chelsea Square owes its name to Thomas Clarke, a veteran 
of the French and Indian War, who bought some land on the 
bank of the Hudson shortly after the Revolution, built a resi- 
dence there, and called it Chelsea, after quiet Chelsea, near 
London, where there is a hospital for old soldiers. 

Cherry Street was originally part of a cherry farm. 

Church Street was cut through property belonging to Trinity 
Church. 

Chrtjstie Street was named after John Chrystie, a brave and 
skillful New York officer who gave up his life in the War 
of 1812. 

C1areiiif)iit \\i\s so called by ^Michael Hogan, a native of 
County Clare, Ireland, who once owned the property and named 
it in honor of his native place. 

Clarksoii Street preserves the memory of ilatthew Clarkson, 
a vestryman of Trinity Church, who was well known because 
of his charities and public works. 

Cli'lf St)ret formed at one time jiart of the property of Dirck 
van Clyff. 

Clinton Street recalls the names of James, George, and De 
Witt Clinton, whoso records in Avar and in peace are deserving of 
the highest honors at the hands of the State that gave them 
birth. 

Coeuties Slip, commonly called " (^)uinchy"s Slip," is a cor- 
ruption of Coentje, as Conraet ten Eijck, who owned land in 
the neighborhood, was familiarly known. 

Corlears Street brings to mind Jacobus van Corlear, who 
offered the use of his house for school purposes to Governor 
Stuyvesant, and Anthony van Corlear, the trumpeter, who, it is 
alleged, gave Spuyten Duyvil its name when he boasted he could 
swim across its troubled waters. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 261 

CortJandt Sirevt is a ijortion of a large tract of land that 
belonged to Ololf Stevenson Cortlandt, the first of that family 
to settle in America. 

Cfusbu IStreet \\a>-, named in honor of William Bedlow Crosby, 
who inherited the greatest portion of the Seventh Ward. He 
was connected with many charitable societies, and devoted much 
of his time to works of benevolence. 

Dclitncei/ Street recalls the name of Lieutenant-Governor 
James De Lancey, the original builder and owner of the house 
that afterward became Fraunces's Tavern, and the donor to the 
city of its first to\\n clock. The De Lancey family played an 
important part in New York's history during a long period. The 
De Lancey farm, covering about one hundred and twenty blocks 
of our present city, extended from Division Street to Stanton, 
and from the Bowery to the East River. 

De Peyster iitreet honors Johannes and Abraham de Peyster, 
both of whom were prominent and Avealthy citizens in the early 
days of the city. (See the statue of Abraham de Peyster in 
Bowling Green.) 

Desbrosses Street commemorates the oflicial career of Elias 
Desbrosses, who occupied the positions of aldernum, President 
of the Chamber of Commerce, and warden of Trinity Church. 

Dh'ision Street derives its name from the fact that it divided 
the two great farms of James De Lancey and Henry Rutgers. 

Duaiie Stiret owes its name to James Duane, New York's first 
mayor after the Revolution. 

Exehaiige Place was the site of a merchants' exchange. 

EUJridge Street is a reminder of Lieutenant Joseph C. El- 
dridge, who lost his life in the War of 1812. 

Ferry Street A\'as the road that led to the first ferry from 
New York to Biooklyn. 

Fletcher Street was named in honor of Governor Benjamin 
Fletcher, during whose term (l(J!J2-"98) printing was introduced 
into the colony. 

Fulton Street was named after Robert Fulton, and is the 
only memorial on Manhattan Island to preserve the memory of 
him who helped so much toward its development. 

FrauK'fort Street was so called by Jacob Leisler, after his 
birthplace in Germany. His estate covered the section tlirough 
which the street was cut. 

Franklin Street and Fraiiklin Square, it is hardly necessary 
to say, perpetuate the name of Benjamin Franklin. 

Ganseroort Street was nained after ]'>ri"adicr-(!cneral Peter 



202 A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 

Gansevoort, who rendered important service in checking Bur- 
goyne, for which he received a vote of thanks from Congress. 

Gocrck Street and Maiujin Street were named after the two 
surveyors who laid out that section of the city about the year 
1803. 

(Ifjureriieur Street recalls the Gouverneur family, which was 
prominent during Leisler's time. A later member of the family, 
Isaac Gouverneur, owned a house which, previous to the great 
fire of 1835, was one of the wonders of the town. 

(Jriunerey Park was originally a hill, the shape of which was 
like a hooked knife, called in Dutch a Krfjin-nie.ssje, which grad- 
ually was corrupted into the present English title. 

Great Jejues Street belonged to the estate of Chief-Justice 
David Jones, who flourished during the latter part of the eight- 
eenth century. 

Greeley Square was named after Horace Greeley, founder, and 
for many years editor, of the New York Tribune. 

Greene Street honors the memory of General Nathanael 
Greene, whose intellectual qualities, it has been remarked, " were 
precisely those that have won distinction for the foremost strate- 
gists of modern times." 

Greenicieh Street was the road that led to Greenwich, a name 
bestowed by Admiral Sir Peter Warren to a mansion he built 
in the section which afterward took the name of the admiral's 
house. The admiral was an Englishman who acquired great 
wealth from prizes he captured at sea. Warren Street was named 
after him by the Trinity corporation, of which he was an officer. 

Hanover Square was named in honor of King George, who 
was of the house of Hanover. 

Henri/ Street honors the name of Henry Rutgers, a prominent 
citizen and landowner of early New York who donated a site for 
the Third Presbyterian Church. His farm adjoined that of the 
De Lancey family, from which it was separated by Division 
Street, extending from that line to the East River and from 
Catharine to Montgomery Street. (See Rutgers Street.) 

Hester Street was so called by Barnet Rynders in honor of 
his wife Hester Rynders. daughter of Jacob Leisler. 

Jaeoh Street, according to some authorities, owes its name 
to Jacobus Roosevelt, who owned property in the neighborhood, 
while others believe that it was named in honor of Jacob Leisler. 

Leonard Street formed a part of the property of Anthony 
Lispenard. Tlirec streets were cut through his land, to which 
he gave the names of his three sons, Leonard, Anthony, and 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 2G3 

Thomas. Anthony Street was subsequently changed to Worth 
Street, in recognition of the military triumphs of Major-General 
Worth. (See the Worth Monument, Madison Square.) 

Lewis Street honors the name of Morgan Lewis, a stanch 
patriot who fought through the Revolutionary War and later 
became Chief Justice and then Governor. 

Liberty IStreet was originally called Crown Street, the name 
being changed after the Revolution, when all references to roy- 
alty were suppressed. 

Lispenard Street was named after Anthony Lispenard, to 
whom belonged the Lispenard meadows, a swampy district 
stretching along the present Canal Street from the North River 
to Centre Street, and down Broadway in a long, narrow loop as 
far as Duane Street. 

LoriUurd Place preserves the name of Jacob Lorillard, a 
prominent vestryman of Trinity Church. 

Ludlow Street recalls the name of Gabriel Ludlow, clerk of 
the House of Assembly and one of the original vestrymen of 
Trinity Church. 

AlacdoiKjal Street was named after Alexander Macdougal, a 
noted " Son of Liberty," who was arrested in 1770, on a charge 
of seditious libel, for which he was imprisoned in the Debtors' 
Prison (present Register's Office), thus becoming tlie first nuxrtyr 
in the patriot cause. 

Maiden Lane is the old Dutch Maagde I'aatje, or Maiden's 
Path, a very ancient path laid out by Nature along a rippling 
stream shaded by overhanging trees. Here, beyond the limits 
of the town, the maidens and their swains found a romantic 
spot to wander up and down. 

MaiKjin Street. (See Goerck Street.) 

Marketfield Street was the street that led to the market field, 
which purpose Bowling Green originally served. 

Mercer Street recalls the name of Brigadier-General Hugh 
Mercer, who advised the night march on Princeton, and who, in 
rallying his men on that occasion, received his death-blow. He 
occupied a high place in the esteem of Washington, and was 
deeply movu-ned by the nation. 

Miiietta Street derives its name from a Dutch word meaning 
" the little one " — that is, the little creek to distinguish it from 
a large creek not far away. The former creek, wliicli originated 
in the marshy ground in the neighborhood of Washington Square, 
still flows under the pavements of modern New York. 

Montgomery Street honors the memory of Brigadier-General 



264 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

Richard jMontgomeiy, whose last words before attempting to 
storm Quebec (December 31, 1775) ^^ere, " Men of New York, you 
will not fear to follow where your general leads! " (See monu- 
ment, St. Paul's Church.) 

Moore Street commemorates the name of Colonel .John Moore, 
a prominent merchant and oHicial. Another explanation at- 
tributes its name to the fact that vessels were " moored '' in the 
vicinity. 

Morris Street suggests the well-known name of Gouverneur 
Morris, who, besides occupying many important public positions, 
was one of the street commissioners appointed in 1807 to lay 
out the new streets, which resulted in a city of rigid straight 
lines and right angles. 

Morton Street honors the name of John ^lorton, a well-known 
merchant of old New York, who advanced large sums to the Con- 
tinental Congress. 

Mott Street was named after a successful butcher, Joseph 
Mott. 

Murray Hill took its name from the Murray mansion. It 
was here that the mother of Lindley Murray, the grammarian, 
entertained the British generals, so the story goes, while Putnam 
and his tired forces made their escape from the lower point of 
the island to Harlem. 

Mirrraij Street brings to mind the name of John INIurray, Jr., 
who was one of the original thirteen trustees of the New York 
Free School Society, which in ISOli began its first session in 
an apartment in Bancker (now Madison) Street with forty 
pupils. 

Nassau Street honors the name of the Prince of Orange and 
Nassau. 

Netv Street was the first street opened by the English after 
taking possession of New Amsterdam. 

Pearl Street, the oldest street of New Amsterdam, was so 
called because of the pearl shells found along its path. 

Pelt Street was named after a prominent butcher, John Pell. 

Pitt Street. (See Chatham Square.) 

Perry Street honors the memory of Oliver Hazard Perry, the 
hero of Lake Erie. 

Piatt Street was named after Jacob S. Piatt, a highly suc- 
cessful merchant. 

Reetor Street, being originally church property, naturally 
owes its name to that fact. 

Kidye Street was an actual ridge along the top of a hill on 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF XEW YORK 205 

James De Lancey"s property. The slope from Ridge Street to 
the river still exists. 

l^uoscrelt tstrcct recalls the name of Isaac and of his son 
Nicholas J. Roosevelt. The former was a member of one of the 
celebrated committees of One Hundred to guard the safety of 
New York previous to the Revolution. Later on he became Presi- 
dent of the Bank of New York. Nicholas was an inventor whose 
work in connection with steamboat machinery was valuable. A 
later member of the family, James Henry, the philanthropist, 
founded Roosevelt Hospital in 1871. A tablet affixed to one of 
the walls bears this inscription: 



TO THE MEMORY OF 

JAMES HENRY ROOSEVELT, 

A TRUE SON OF NEW YORK, 

THE GEXEROUS FOUNDER OF THIS HOSPITAL, 

A MAN UPRIGHT IN HIS AIMS, SIMPLE IN HIS LIFE, 

AND SUBLIME IN HIS BENEFACTION. 



Riit<jcrs Street is a part of what was once Rutgers farm, an 
attractive neighborhood crossed by a shady path known as 
" Love Lane." A second " Love Lane " was a feature of Green- 
wich village. (See Henry Street.) 

RKtlicrford t<tn'ct recalls the name of Colonel John Ruther- 
ford, who was one of the committee that planned the present sys- 
tem of avenues and streets. 

Slieriff Street was so named in honor of Colonel Marinus 
Willett, the famous " Son of Liberty "' who subsequently filled 
the office of sheriff. Willett Street also commemorates his 
patriotic record. 

Spring Street owes its name to the discovery of a spring in 
that neighborhood about the year 1800, when Aaron Burr's 
Manhattan Banking and Water-supply Company began to fur- 
nish the city with drinkable water. 

Stone Street was the first stioct in New Amsterdam to be 
paved with stone, which achicNcineiit created a great sensa- 
tion. 

Siilliran Street honors the name of Brigadier-General .John 
Sullivan, one of the most active officers of the Revolutionary War, 
who received the thanks of Washington for his services in West- 



266 A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 

Chester. In Rhode Island lie fought what Lafayette pronounced 
to be the best-contested battle of the war. 

Thomas Street. (See Leonard Street.) 

Toniplchis Street sviggests the name of Daniel D. Tompkins, 
Governor of New York from 1807 to 1817 and Vice-President of 
the United States from 1817 to 1825. 

T'nipot Alley is a curious corruption of Tutjii I'adt, meaning 
Garden Lane. 

Tri/oii Roic recalls the name of Sir William Tryon, the last 
of the English Governors of New York. 

Tandam Street honors the name of Rip Van Dam, of Dutch 
descent, who in the year 1731 occupied the important post of 
Governor pro tent, while for a time there was no English official 
to fill the executive office. He ^\•as a great merchant and a 
prominent ship-builder. 

Yarick Street was cut through the property of Colonel Richard 
Varick, a Revolutionary patriot, a\]io afterward became Mayor 
of New York. 

Teseu Street honors the name of the Rev. W. Vesey, Trinity's 
first clergyman. He preached his first sermon in Trinity Church 
February G, 1097. 

Wall Street owes its name to the wall of palisades that origi- 
nally marked its path. 

Warren Street. (See Greenwich Street.) 

Water Street was so named because it consisted of land that 
in the early days of the city was literally under water. 

Watts Street preserves the memory of John Watts, the last 
City Recorder under English rule. He was one of the assembly- 
men that protested against England's riglit to billet soldiers on 
the citizens of New York. In after years he founded the I^eake 
and Watts Orphan Asylum. His monument is a prominent 
feature of Trinity churchyard. 

Warcrly Place received its name in response to a petition 
from residents of the neighborhood, who were great admirers 
of Sir Walter Scott. 

Whitehall Street was the thoroughfare that led to Peter 
Stuyvesant's town house. Whether it was so named because of 
its white walls, or because Englisli governors who occupied it 
subsequently were reminded of London's Whitehall, is a question. 

Willett Street. (See Sheriff" Street.) 

William Street, like Beekman Street, perpetuates the name 
of William Beekman. South William Street was originally called 
]\Iill Street, and here the first Jewish synagogue was erected. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 2G7 

WoostCf' Street recalls the name of General David Wooster, a 
dashing officer of the Revolutionary War, who fell while gallantly 
leading a charge against the British at Ridgetield, Conn. 

Worth kitrect. (See Leonard Street.) 



BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Note. — The Dutch records of New York for a long time were 
almost entirely neglected. At first they were kept in this city, 
but when, in 1798, Albany became the seat of government, they 
were transferred to the office of the Secretary of State, excepting 
those that referred specifically to New Amsterdam. The latter 
were left in our City Hall. 

In 1814 the New York Historical Society (organised in L804), 
anxious to preserve and render accessible the State's early rec- 
ords, presented a memorial to the Legislature, the result of which 
was a translation by Dr. F. A. van der Kemp, in twenty-six 
volumes, since known as the Albany Records. 

These records made plain the fact that much material relating 
to the earliest Dutch period was missing. Again the Historical 
Society appealed to the Legislature, but not until 1839 was 
action taken. Jn that year a sum of money was api)ropriated, 
and in 1841 John Romeyn Brodhead, attache of the American 
legation at The Hague, was appointed agent to examine the 
archives of Holland, England, and France, and obtain copies of 
all papers referring to New York's history. 

Unfortunately, twenty years before, a whole batch of im- 
portant records of the West India Company of Holland had been 
sold as waste paper. Still, Brodhead succeeded in finding many 
valuable documents, the copies of which filled eighty volumes, 
which are now in the office of the Secretary of State. 

In 1849 certain of these papers were translated and issued 
by the State in four large volumes. This publication, known 
as the Docu7nentary History of the State of New York, was the 
work of Dr. E. B. 6'Callaghan. 

In 1853 it was decided to publish all the papers. Dr. O'Cal- 
laghan was again employed, and com[)leted his undertaking in 
eleven volumes, entitling the publication Documents Relative 
to the Colonial History of the State of New York, procured in 
Holland, England, and France by John Romeyn Brodhead, Esq. 

Subsequently some of the West India Company's scattered 



268 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

papers came to light. A few stray docaiments were unearthed 
in 1851, and several years later another batch was found con- 
taining documents relating to New Netherland and to the re- 
capture of New York by the Dutch. In 18S9, James Grant 
Wilson, editor of The Memorial History of the City of New 
York, discovered among the papers of an old Dutch family the 
original deed describing the purchase of Manhattan Island from 
the Indians for the value of sixty guilders. 

In the meantime the records referring specifically to New 
Amsterdam had remained in the City Hall in New York. Early 
in the century an unsatisfactory translation had been made of 
one volume, and thus the work rested until 1848, when Dr. 
O'Callaghan, before taking hold of the State's collection already 
mentioned, completed the task. These translations, consisting of 
six volumes, remained, however, for nearly half a century next 
to the original records, unprinted and almost unknown. A few 
years ago Berthold Fernow, translator and editor of some of the 
colonial documents of the State, having been appointed to edit 
the manuscript volumes, revised the entire material, and the city 
published it, in 1807, in seven volumes, under the title of The 
Records of New Amsterdam from 1G53 to 1674. 



HISTORIES 



History of New York from the First Discovery to the Year 1732, 
by William Smith. (With a continuation to the year 1814.) 
Published originally in London, 1793. 

Called by its author, who was Chief Justice of the Prov- 
ince of New York, a narrative rather than a history. Fur- 
nishes evidence of the imperfect condition of the Dutch 
records at the time, but is interesting as New York's first 
history. 

History of New York during the Eevolutionary War and of the 
Leading Events in the Other Colonies at that Period, by 
Thomas Jones. Written between the years 1783-88. Viewed 
from a loyalist standpoint. 

" There can be no greater error than to suppose that the 
loyalists, as a whole, were willing to submit quietly to the 
exactions of the mother country and her invasions of their 
rights and liberties as English subjects. As Americans they 
felt those grievances and were indignant, . . . but they wished 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 269 

to fight tlie battle for those rights and liberties . . , with 
the powerful weapons which the Constitution of England 
gave to them as to other Englishmen." 

New York Historical Society's Collections. First Series, 5 vols., 
1809-'29. Second Series, 4 vols., 1841-59. Proceedings, 7 
vols., 1843-49. Collections, 24 vols., 18G8-'92. (For a com- 
plete list of titles of the Society's publications, see K. R. 
Bowker's Publications of Societies.) 

History of the State of New York, by John V. N. Yates and 
Joseph W. Moulton, 1824. 

The Natural, Statistical, and Civil History of the State of New 
York, by James Macauley, 1829, 3 vols. 

A History of New York for Schools, by William Dunlap, 1835, 
2 vols. 

History of the New Netherlands, Province of New York and 
State of New York, to the Adoption of the Federal Constitu- 
tion, by W^illiam Dunlap, 1839, 2 vols. 

Manuals of the Corporation of the City of New York (known 
generally as Valentine's Manuals), 1841 to 186G and 1808 to 
1870. No issue in 1807. (See Historical Index to the 
Manuals.) 

The History of Political Parties in the State of New York, by 
Jabez D. Hammond, 1847, 3 vols. 

History of New Netherland or New York under the Dutch Rule, 
by E. B. O'Callaghan, from 1492 to 1004. Published in 1845 
and 1848. 2 vols. 

The Documentary History of the State of New York, by E. 15. 
O'Callaghan, 1850, 4 vols. 

History of the State of New York, by John Romej'n Brodhead, 
1853 and 1871, 2 vols. (Period covered, 1009-91.) 

" Descended from an ]<]nglish officer who helped his king 
to conquer Dutch New Netherland, as well as from a colonial 
Hollander who stood up manfully for his Republican Father- 
land, I feel no partiality in telling the history of the greatest 
European plantation in America." — Author's Preface. 

Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New 
York, procured in Holland, England, and France by John 
Romeyn Brodhead. Edited by E. B. O'Callaghan, 1850, 11 
vols. 

History of the City of New York, by David T. Valentine, 1853. 

Illustrates the different paths pursued in extending tlie 

habitations of the town, and notes " the circumstances which 

operated to establish the lines of the early thoroughfares and 



270 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

the laying out of the plan of that part of the city originally 
settled."" Includes names and many biographical facts of 
the earliest inhabitants. 

New York City during the American Revolution, being a Collec- 
tion of Original Papers from the ^Manuscripts in the Possession 
of the Mercantile Library Association of New York City, 186L 

The Earliest Churches of New York and its Vicinity, by Gabriel 
P. Disosway, 1865. 

History of the City of New York, by INLiry L. Booth, 1867, 2 
vols. 

" Especial care has been taken to collect the incidents of 
the Revolution, in wliich the city bore so prominent a part. 
... In this the writer begs leave to acknowledge the kind- 
ness of several distinguished citizens, lineal descendants of 
our oldest families, who have furnished valuable documents 
and information."" — Aiitltors Preface. 

Civil List and Forms of Government of the Colony and State 
of New York, by S. C. Hutchins. 1868. 

Battle of Long Island, by Thomas W. Field (Long Island His- 
torical Society Memoirs, vol. ii), 1869. 

History of New York City, by William L. Stone, 1872. 

The author had special advantages in ha\ing access to 
unpublished manuscripts of his father consisting of conversa- 
tions with such prominent men as Aaron Burr, Chancellor 
Livingston, John Jay, Robert Morris, Nicholas Bayard, and 
others. The book also contains several contributions of spe- 
cial value: The Narration of the Grand Erie Canal Celebra- 
tion; An Account of the Federal Procession in Honor of the 
Adoption of the Federal Constitution in 1788; and Washing- 
ton"s Reception and Inaugural Ball in 1789, all by the 
author's father; and Reminiscences of New York City, by 
Gulian C. Verplanck. In 1872 these publications had already 
become very rare. 

History of the City of New York, by Mrs. Martha J. Lamb, 1877, 
2 vols. (See History of the City of New York, by Mrs. 
Burton Harrison.) 

A comprehensive work, full of interesting details and 
much genealogical information. 

The Campaign of 1776 around New York and Brooklyn, by 
Henry P. Johnston (Long Island Historical Society IMemoirs, 
vol. i'ii), 1878. 
Harlem, Its Origin and Early Annals, prefaced by Home Scenes 
in the Fatherlands, by James Riker, 1881. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 271 

History of New York City, embracing an Outline Sketch of 
Events from 1009 to 1830 and a Full Account of its Devel- 
opment from 1830 to 1884, by Benson J. Lossing, 1884, 2 vols. 
" A brief history of the city from the date of its foundation 
until 1830, when the impetus wliieh produced its most mar- 
velous development began to be powerfully felt. Tliis work 
is essentially a social history." — Author's Preface. 

Colonial New York; Philip Schuyler and his Family, by George 
W. Schuyler, 1885, 2 vols. 

A family history containing nuich general information. 

New York; the Planting and Growth of the Empire State, by 
Ellis H. Roberts (American Commonwealth Series), 1887-'89, 
2 vols. 

New York in the Revolution (New York State Archives, vol. i), 
by Berthold Fernow, 1887. (Contains list of officers of the 
New York line, the navy, etc.) 

The Empire State, a Compendious History of the Commonwealth 
of New York, by Benson J. Lossing, 1888. 

The Story of New York (Story of the States Series), by Elbridge 
S. Brooks, 1888. 

New York City and Vicinity during the ^Var of 1812-"15, by 
R. S. Guernsey, 1889 and 1895, 2 vols. 

Old New York, a Journal relating to the History and Antiqui- 
ties of New York City, edited by W. W. Pasko, 1890-'91, 
2 vols. 

New York in the War of the Rebellion, compiled by Frederick 
Phisterer, 1890. 

The ]\Iemorial History of the City of New York, edited by James 
Grant Wilson, 1892, 4 vols. 

" A single, complete, and exhaustive work." 

Greater New York: Writings and Addresses by Andrew H. 
Green, 1893. 

The Story of the City of New York (Great Cities of the Republic 
Series), by Charles Burr Todd, 1895. 

New York (Historic Towns Series), by Theodore Roosevelt, 1895. 
A sketch of the workings of the town's social, commercial, 
and political life, at successive periods, and of the causes 
that changed a little Dutch hamlet into a huge American 
city. Also, an outline of the steps by which the city obtained 
a free political life, giving prominence to the remarkable 
and ever-varying conditions caused by the many race ele- 
ments that have repeatedly changed the character of the 
population. 
19 



272 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

History of tlie City of New York, by Mrs. Burton Harrison 
(forming an additional chapter to Mrs. Martha J. Lamb's His- 
tory of tlie City of New York), 1896. 

The Records of New Amsterdam from 1053 to 1674, edited by 
Berthold Fernow, 1897, 7 vols. 

The American Metropolis from Knickerbocker Days to the 
Present Time, by Frank Moss, 1S97, 3 vols. 

" A reminiscent, observant, reflective journey on his- 
torical lines." 

The Battle of Harlem Heights, September 16, 1776, by Henry 
P. Johnston, 1897. 

This work brings together in convenient form for local 
reference all the authorities, shows that the battle was fought 
from the west and not the east of Morningside Heights, and 
introduces new details. 

New York in the Revolution as Colony and State, by James A. 
Roberts, Comptroller, 1898. 

Contains a list of 43,645 men who enlisted from New York 
State and served in the Revolutionary War. 

Historic New York (Half Moon papers), edited by Maud Wilder 
Goodwin, Alice Carrington Royce, and Ruth Putnam, 1898, 
2 vols. 

Greater New York, Its Government, Financial Institutions, 
Transportation Facilities and Chronology. Maps. The Even- 
ing Post Publishing Company, 1898. 

Historic Towns of the Middle States, edited by Lyman P. Powell 
(New York City by Joseph B. Gilder), 1899. 

A Brief History of the City of New York, by Charles B. Todd, 
1899. 

The Dutch and Quaker Colonies of America, by John Fiske, 
1899, 2 vols. 

Historical Index to the Manuals of the Corporation of the City 
of New York ( V^alentine's Manuals), 1841 to 1870, 2,325 ref- 
erences, 1900. 

The New Metropolis. Memorable Events of Three Centuries 
(lGOO-1900). From the Island of Mana-ha-ta to Greater New 
York at the Close of the Nineteenth Century. D. Appleton 
and Company, 1 vol., and portfolios. 

History of New York State, by William Reed Prentice, 1900. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 273 



DESCRIPTIVE AND REMINISCENT WORKS 

Antliology of New Netherland, or Translations from the Early 
Dutch Poets of New York, by Henry C. Murphy, 180.5. 

A Brief Description of New York, formerly called New Nether- 
lands, by Daniel Denton. 

Written in 1070, this was the first printed description in 
English of the country now forming New York and New 
Jersey. Reprinted in Gowan's liibliotheca Americana, vol. i. 

Journal of a Voyage to New York and a Tour in Several of the 
American Colonies in 1679-'80, by Jasper Dankers and Peter 
Sluyter, translated by Henry C. ^lurphy (Long Island His- 
torical Society Memoirs), 1807. 

A Description of the Province and City of New York, with Plans 
of the City and Several Forts as they existed in the Year 1095, 
by the Rev. John Miller, 1843. 

Private Journal kept by Madam Knight of a Journey from 
Boston to New York in the Year 1704, 1825. 

Memoirs of an American Lady, with Sketches of JNIanners and 
Scenes in America as they existed Previous to the Revolution, 
by Mrs. Anne Grant, first published in 1808; republished in 
1876. 

Poems relating to the American Revolution, by Philip Freneau 
(written at the time), 1805. 

Prison Ship Martyr; Captain Jabez Fitch's Diary. A Narrative 
of the Treatment with which the American Prisoners were 
used who were taken by the British and Hessian Troops on 
Long Island, York Island, etc., 1770. 

Forty Years' Residence in America, Fifty Years' Reminiscences 
of New York (including Tales of the Sugar-House Prison in 
Liberty Street, the Yellow Fever from 1798 to 1822, and 
Anecdotes of the Revolution), and Laurie Todd, by Grant 
Thorburn, 1834, 1845, and 1852, 3 vols. 

The Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution, by Benson J. Lossing, 
1855, 2 vols. 

The City of New York in the Year of Washington's Inauguration, 
1789, by Thomas E. V. Smith, 1889. 

The First American; his Homes and his Households, by Leila 
Herbert, 1900 (chapter ii. In New York). 

Old New York, or Reminiscences of the Past Sixty Y'^ears, a Dis- 
course delivered before the New York Historical Society, 
November 17, 1857, by John W. Francis, 1866. 



274 A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 

The Pictorial Field Book of the War of 1812, by Benson J. 

Lossing, 1869. 
Reminiscences of an Octogenarian of the City of New York 

(1816-'60), by Charles H. Haswell, 1896. 
The Picture of New York and >Stranger"s Guide to the Com- 
mercial ]Metropolis, by Andrew T. Goodrich, 1828. 
The Diary of Pliilip Hone, 1828-'51, edited by Bayard Tucker- 
man, 1889, 2 vols. 
Historic Tales of Olden Time concerning the Early Settlement 

and Advancement of New York City and State, by John F. 

Watson, 1832. 
The Old Merchants of New York City, by J. L. Scoville, 1862, 

5 vols. 
The Market Book, a History of the Public Markets in the City 

of New York from its First Settlement to the Present Time, 

by Thomas F. Devoe, 1862. 
Old New York from the Battery to Bloomingdale, etchings by 

Eliza Greatorex, text by INI. Despard, 1875. 
Last Days of Knickerbocker Life in New York, by Abram C. 

Dayton, 1882. 
A Tour Around New York, by Felix Oldboy (John Flavel Mines), 

1893. 
In Old New York, by Thomas A. Janvier, 1894. 
Colonial Days in Old New York, by Alice Morse Earle, 1896. 
Some Colonial Homesteads and their Stories, by Marion Harland 

(Jumel Mansion, p. 276), 1897. 
Home Life in Colonial Days, by Alice Morse Earle, 1898. 
The Goede Vrow of Mana-ha-ta, 1609-1760, by Mrs. John King 

Van Rensselaer, 1898. 
Nooks and Corners of New York, by Charles Hoinstreet. 1899. 
Stage Coach and Tavern Days, by Alice Morse Earle, 1900. 
Early New York Houses, with Historical Genealogical Notes, 

by W. S. Pelletreau, 1900. 



BIOGRAPHIES 

John Jacob Astor, by Freeman Hunt (Lives of American Mer- 
chants), 1858; by James Parton (Famous Americans of Re- 
cent Times), 1867. 

John James Audubon, by Samuel Smiles, 1860; by his Widow, 
1869. 



A LANDMARK IlISTOHY OF NEW YORK 275 

James Gordon Bennett, by James Parton (Famous Americans of 

Recent Times), 1807. 
William Cullen Bryant, by A. J. Symington, 18S0; by Parke 

Godwin, 1883, 2 vols.; by John Bigelow (American Men of 

Letters Series), 1890. Also Bryant and his Friends, by James 

Grant Wilson, 188G. 
Aaron Burr, by Samuel L. Knapp, 1835; by James Parton, 1858; 

by H. C. Mervin (Beacon Biographies), 1899. 
De Witt Clinton, by J. Renwick, 1840; by William W. Camp- 
bell, 1849. 
Public Papers of George Clinton, First Governor of New York, 

1777-'95, 1801-'04. With an Introduction by Hugh Hastings, 

State Historian. Published by the State of New Y'ork, 1899, 

3 vols. Also article by W. L. Stone (Magazine of American 

History, vol. iii, 329). 
James I'enimore Cooper, by Thomas P. Lounsbury (American 

Men of Letters Series), 1884; by Susan Fenimore Cooper 

(Atlantic Monthly, vol. lix. 199; "vol. Ix, 474); by W. B. S. 

Clymer (Beacon Biographies), 1900. 
Peter Cooper, by Lloyd Bryce (North American Review, vol. 

elii, 410). 
Dongan, the Great Colonial Governor, by P. F. Dealy (jNIagazine 

of American History, vol. viii, 106). 
Robert Fulton, by James Renwick (Sparks's Biographies), 1838; 

by Thomas W. Knox, 188G; by Robert H. Thurston (Makers 

of America Series), 1891. 
Horace Greeley, by James Parton, 1869; by L. V. Reavis, 1872; 

by L. D. Ingersoll, 1874; by Francis NicoU Zabriskie, 1890. 
Nathan Hale, by L W. Stuart, 1856. The Two Spies (Hale and 

Andre), by Benson J. Lossing, 1860. 
Alexander Hamilton, by his son, John C. Hamilton, 1834, 2 vols.; 

by John T. Morse, Jr., 1876, 2 vols.; by George Shea, 1879; 

by Henry Cabot Lodge (American Statesmen Series), 1882; by 

William Graham Sumner (IMakers of America Series), 1890. 
Henry Hudson, by Henry R. Cleveland (Sparks's Biographies), 

1838; by John Meredith Read, Jr., 1866. 
Washington Irving, by his nephew, Pierre M. Irving, 1863, 4 

vols.; by Charles Dudley Warner (American Men of Letters 

Series), 1884. (See also Bryant and his Friends, by James 

Grant Wilson, 1880.) 
John Jay, by his son, William Jay, 1833, 2 vols.; by William 

Whitelock, 1887; by George Pellew (American Statesmen 

Series), 1890. 



276 A LANDMARK HISTORY OP NEW YORK 

John Lamb, by Isaac Q. Leake, 1850. 

Jacob Leisler, by Charles F. Hofl'man (Sparks's Biographies, sec- 
ond series), 1844. 

Eichard Montgomery, by John Armstrong (Sparks's Biog- 
raphies), 1834; by Major-General George W. CuUum (Maga- 
zine of American History, vol. ii, 273). 

Gouverneur Morris, by Jared Sparks, 1832, 3 vols.; by Theodore 
Roosevelt (American Statesmen Series), 1888. 

Samuel F. B. Morse, by Samuel I. Prime, 1875. 

William Smith, the Historian, by ]\Iaturin L. Delafield (Magazine 
of American History, vol. vi, 418). 

Peter Stuyvesant, by John S. C. Abbott, 1873; by Bayard Tuck- 
erman (Makers of America Series), 1893. 

Public Papers of Daniel D. Tompkins, Governor of New York, 
1807-'17, with an Introduction by Hugh Hastings, State His- 
torian. Published by the State of New York, 1898. 

Cornelius Vanderbilt, by James Parton (Famous Americans 
of Recent Times), 1867. 

George Washington, by John Marshall (compiled under the in- 
spection of Bushrod Wasliington from original papers be- 
queathed to the latter by his deceased relative), 1832, 2 vols.; 
by Washington Irving, 1855, 5 vols.; by Paul Leicester Ford, 
1890; by Worthington Chauncey Ford, 1900, 2 vols. 

Marinus Willett, a Narrative of the Military Actions of, by his 
son, William M. Willett, 1831. 

Thomas Willett, First Mayor of New York, by Dr. Charles W. 
Pai-sons (Magazine of American History, vol. xvii, 233). 

Appletons' Cyclopaedia of American Biography, edited by James 
Grant Wilson and John Fiske, 1887, 6 vols. 

Encyclopaedia of Contemporary Biography of New York, 1878, 
6 vols. 

The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, 1898-99, 
9 vols. 



The following references, arranged in chronological order, 
dealing with the city's condition at different periods of its devel- 
opment, may also prove useful: 

New York in 1GG4, Harper's Magazine, ix, 452; xxv, 308. 
New York in 1G64-'G8, Valentine's ]\Ianual, 1863, 623. 
New York in 1700, Valentine's jNIanual, 1854, 555. 
New York in 1737, Valentine's Manual,. 1870, 900. 



A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 277 

New York in 1748, Valentine's Manual, 1858, 526; 18G9, 837. 

New York in 1750, Valentine's Manual, 1858, 527. 

New York in 1753, Valentine's Manual, 18G9, 755. 

New York in 1750, Pasko's Old New York, ii, 3G. 

New York in 1757, Pasko's Old New York, ii, 1G6. 

New York in 1770, Historical Magazine, v, 244; xxi, 31. 

New York in 1772, Magazine of American History, ii, 748: xxiii, 

412. 
New York in 177G, Valentine's Manual, 18G2, G52; Historical 

Magazine, xiv, 305. 
New York in 1777-83, Valentine's Manual, 18G3, G34. 
New York in 1783-'89, Magazine of American History, xxix, 305. 
New York in 1786, Histoncal Magazine, xii, 279. 
New York in 1788, Historical Magazine, xv, 183. 
New York during the Inauguration of Washington, Century 

Magazine, xv, 850; Harper's Magazine, Ixxviii, 671. 
New York in 1805, Pasko's Old New York, i, 157. 
New York in 180G, Valentine's Manual, 1868, 828. 
New York in 1806-7, Valentine's Manual, 1857, 417; 1858, 606. 
New York in 1807, Valentine's Manual, 1859, 564. 
New York in 1807-8, Valentine's Manual, 1870, 847. 
New York in 1808-21, Valentine's Manual, 1864, 847. 
New York in 1809, Magazine of American History, iii, 689. 
New York in 1857, Valentine's Manual, 1857, 415, 440. 



FICTION 

A History of New York from the Beginning of the World to 

the End of the Dutch Dynasty. By Diedrich Knickerbocker 

(Washington Irving), 1809. 
First of the Knickerbockers, a Tale of 1G73. Introduces Peter 

Stuyvesant and Governor Lovelace. By P. H. ISIycr, 1848. 
Anncke, a Story of New Amsterdam, by Elizabeth W.Champney. 
Patroon Van Volkenberg, a Talc of Old Manhattan in the Year 

1686. By Henry Thew Stephen. 1900. 
In Leisler's Times, an Historical Story of Knickerbocker New 

York (1690). By E. S. Brooks. 1886. 
The Begum's Daughter. Leisler's time. Introduces Leisler, 

Bayard, Phil ipse, and Van Courtlandt. By Edwin Lassetter 

liynner, 1890. 
Old New York, or Democracy in 1689, a Tragedy in Five Acts. 



278 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 

Introduces Leisler, Milbiirn, Slaughter, Schuyler, Livingston, 
and other prominent men of the day. By Mrs. E. Oakes 
Smith, 1853. 

Beyond the City Gates. Time, 1700. Introduces Lord Bello- 
mont, and deals with the buccaneer period. By Augusta 
Campbell Watson, 1897. 

The Water Witch, a story of the methods employed to smug- 
gle goods into New York in Cornbury's time (1702-'08), 
showing the latter's corrupt methods. By J. Fenimore 
Cooper, 1874. 

Free to Serve. Life and Fashions of Old New Y'ork. Introduc- 
ing Governor Cornbury (1702-"08), who had a curious habit 
of dressing in women's clothes. By E. Rayner, 1897. 

In Old New Y'ork. Time of Governor Cosby (1732-'3(i) and 
Zenger. By Wilson Barrett and Elwyn Barron, 1900. 

The Dutchman's Fireside. Time of the French and Indian War. 
By James K. Paulding, 1808. 

A Soldier of Manhattan. Time of the French and Indian War. 
Introduces the Earl of Loudon, General Abercrombie, and 
General Wolfe. Depicts New Y'ork fashions. By Joseph A. 
Altsheler, 1897. 

Satanstoe, a picture of social customs and a description of 
prominent places of New Y^ork in the year 1750. By J. 
Fenimore Cooper. 

Chainbearer. This work is in a certain sense a sequel to Satans- 
toe. It deals with the Antirent Agitation. By J. Fenimore 
Cooper, 1859. 

A Bow of Orange Ribbon. New York during the Stamp Act 
Troubles, introducing patriot Marinus Willett. By Amelia 
E. Barr, 1886. 

Philip Winwood, a Sketch of the Domestic History of an Amer- 
ican Captain in the War of Independence, Embracing Events 
that occurred between and during the Y^ears 1763 and 1786 
in New Y'ork and London. By Robert Neilson Stephens, 1900. 

For King or Country, a Story of the American Revolution. 
Scene, New Y'ork in 1775. Describes the Sugarhouse Prison 
and introduces Washington and Howe. By James Barnes, 
1896. 

Three Colonial Boys, a Story of the Times of 1770. By Everett 
T. Tomlinson, 1895. 

In the Hands of the Redcoats, a Story of the Jersey Prison- 
ship, by Everett T. Tomlinson, 1900. 

Wolfert's Roost, a story of Revolutionary times, dealing with 



A LAND:\rARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 279 

the debatable or neutral ground that lay between the Brit- 
ish, who held New York, and the Americans in the High- 
lands, and was harried by friend and foe alike. By Wash- 
ington Irving, 1805. 

The Spy, a story of tlie neutral territory. Time, 1780. By J. 
Fenimore Cooper. 

The Fortune of War. A graphic picture of New Y^ork during 
the Revolution, describing persons and events connected 
witli the period when the city Avas in the possession of the 
British. By Elizabeth N. Barrow. 1900. 

A Colonial Free Lance. Time, 1778. Introduces Sir Henry 
Clinton. By Chauncey C. Hotchkiss, 1897. 

The Continental Dragoon, a Romance of the Philipse Manor 
House in 1778, describing experiences in the Neutral Terri- 
tory. By Robert Neilson Stephens, 1898. 

The Maid of INIaiden Lane, a Sequel to the Bow of Orange Rib- 
bon. Time, directly after the Revolution. Introduces Wash- 
ington and Lady Washington. By Amelia E. Barr, 1900. 

Trinity Bells. Time, 1798. A Story of Algerian Piracj^ and 
Ransom. By Amelia E. Barr, 1899. 

Story of a New Y'ork House. Time, 1807. Reference to the 
building of the present City Hall. By H. C. Bunner, 1887. 

A Romance of Old New York. Introduces Aaron Burr. By 
Edgar Fawcett. 1897. 

A Little Colonial Dame. By Mrs. A. C. Sage. 

A Little Girl in Old New York. Time, 1843. By Amanda 
Douglas, 1896. 

The Battle of New Y'ork. Draft Riots of 1863. By W. O. 
Stoddard, 1892. 

An Original Belle. Draft Riots of 1803. By E. P. Roe, 1885. 

A New Y''ork Family. Tweed ring exposure. By Edgar Faw- 
cett, 1891. 

The Honorable Peter Stirling. Modern political life. By Paul 
Leicester Ford, 1897. 



IKDEX 



Abingdon Square, 213. 
Andros, Sir Edmund, 48. 
Apthorpe House, 113. 
Astor, John Jacob, 169. 
Audubon, John J., 129. 

Battery Park, 13 ; Battery, 57. 
Beekinan House, 113. 
Bellomont, Lord, 60, 62. 
Bennett, James Gordon, 193. 
Blockhouses, 178, 180, 183. 
Board of Education, new liall of, 

175. 
Boston, punishment of, 92. 
Bowling Green, 1, 13 ; view of, in 

1830, 234. 
Bradford, William, 56 ; tablets, 76, 

77 ; tombstone, 229. 
Broad Street, view of, 20. 
Broadway, 8 ; view of, 1831, 188. 
Brooklyn Bridge, 206. 
Burr, Aaron, 111, 158, 160. 

Cable, laying of, 197. 

Cabot, 11. 

Canada, capture of, 70. 

Canal-boat village, 74, 185. 

Canal, Erie, 182. 

Castle Garden, 235. 

Central Park, laying out of, 197. 

Chamber of Commerce, 246. 

Chelsea Square, 211. 



Christmas, 40. 

Churches, early, 56, 101. 

Cincinnati, Society of the, 163. 

City Hall, first, 16, 17 ; second, 58 ; 
present, 175, 253, 254. 

Clinton, De Witt, 172 ; statue of, 
233. 

Collect Pond, 36,164, 219. 

Columbia University, tablet, 120; 
view of library, 122 ; inscription, 
123. 

Columbus Column, 250. 

Common, 82, 88, 89, 253. 

Constitutional Convention, 146. 

Constitution, centennial anniver- 
sary of the adoption of, 246. 

Continental Congress, 103. 

Cooper, Peter, 172, 197, 198. 

Cooper Union, view of, 171. 

Corn bury, 69. 

Cosby, William, 67. 

Croton Aqueduct, 190. 

Crystal Palace, 196. 

Cunningham, 118, 135, 136. 

Dana, Charles A., 194, 195. 

Daughters of the American Kcvo- 
lution, 88. 

Declaration of Independence, tab- 
let ; 97, 98, 104. 

Defenses, 1776, 104, 105 ; 1812, 176. 

Defenses, McGowan's Pass, 113. 
281 



282 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



De Peyster, Abraham, statue of, 78. 

Discovery of America, four hun- 
dredth anniversary of, 247. 

Dongan charter, 48. 

Dongau, Thomas, 48. 

Dutch: anmsements, holidays, 40, 
41 ; characteristics of, 5 ; Hag, 12 ; 
ways, 20. 

East India Company, 4. 

East Eiver, 10. 

English governors, character of, 69. 

English right to take Now Amster- 
dam, 42. 

Epidemics, 186. 

Ericsson, Captain, 239. 

Erie Canal, 182. 

Evacuation by the British, 140 ; cen- 
tennial anniversary, 244. 

E.\change Court, statues : Hudson, 
Stuyvesant, 21 ; Wolfe, Clinton, 
233. 

Federalists, 146. 

Field, Cyrus W., 197. 

Fire Department, 205, 207. 

Fires: 1776, 117; 1778, 117; 1835, 
189 ; tablet, 190. 

Fletcher, Benjamin, 52. 

Flour bolting, 47. 

Forts: Amsterdam, 11, 12, 79; 
George, 70, 141 ; Clinton, 177- 
179, 181 ; Fish, 177, 179 ; Laight, 
182; Tryon, 135; Washington, 
133, 134. 

Fraunces's Tavern, 143, 144 ; view 
of, 240 ; tablet, 241. 

French and Indian War, 69. 

Freneau, Philip, 137. 

Fulton, Robert, 163. 

Gas, introduction of, 187. 
George III, 71, 89-91, 98, 99, 102. 



Golden Hill, battle of, 85 ; tablet, 

87. 
Gomez, Stephen, 4. 
Gramercy Park, 217 ; tablet, 218. 
Grant's Tomb, 201. 
Greater New York, 208, 209. 
Greeley, Horace, 192, 252. 
Green, Andrew II., 208. 
Greenwich village, 6, 187, 213. 

Hale, Nathan, 117 : statue of, 119. 

Hall of Eecords, 89, 252. 

Hamilton, Alexander, 89, 96, 107, 
111, 146, lGO-162, 227. 

Hamilton, Andrew, 68. 

Hamilton Grange, 124; view of, 
126 ; trees, 127. 

Harlem, 44. 

Harlem Heights, battle of, 114; 
view of battle ground, 116 ; tab- 
let, 120. 

Hearts of Oak, 95. 

Herald, the New York, 193. 

Holland Society, 9. 

Howe, General, 104. 

Hudson, Henry, 3 ; statue of, 21. 

Hudson Park, view of, 216. 

Indians, 5, 6, 32, 38, 52. 

Ingoldsby, Kichard, 50. 

Inscriptions : Library, Columbia 
University, 123 ; Hamilton's tomb, 
229 ; Pitt's statue, 90 ; Revolu- 
tionary prisoners, Trinity church- 
yard, 230 ; Washington's inaugu- 
ration, 242 ; statue of Washing- 
ton, Riverside, 245. 

Irving, Washington, 249. 

James II, 49. 
Jay, Jolm, 102, 146, 147. 
Jeannette Park, 75. 
Jersey prison ship, 137, 138. 



INDEX 



283 



Jewish burial gi-ounds, old, 39, 218. 
Jumel Mansion, 130 ; tablet, 133. 

Kidd, Captain William, 61. 

Kieft, William, 23. 

King George, statue of, 89 ; tablet, 

98 ; destruetion of statue, 89. 
King's College, 71. 
Kingsley, William C, 206. 
Kip's Bay skirmish, 110. 
Knowlton, Colonel Thomas, 114 ; 

tablets, 120, 128. 
Kno.x, General, 106. 

Lee, Charles, 106. 

Leislei', Jacob, 50 ; execution of, 51. 

Leitch, Andrew, 114; tablets, 120, 

128. 
Lexington, battle of, news received 

in New York, 92. 
Liberty Boys, 92, 96. 
Liberty of the press, 67. 
Liberty-pole troubles, 84 ; tablet, 88. 
Livingston, Eobert R., 97, 152, 165, 

223. 
Long Island, battle of, 107. 
Lovelace, Francis, 44. 

McGowan, Andrew, patriotic act of, 

112. 
McGowan's Pass, 112, 140, 177. 
Mall, the, 72. 
Manetta Creek, 6. 
Manhattan Island, discovery of, 4 ; 

origin of name, 5 ; shape of, 7 ; 

sale of, 12. 
Maps: 1642,35; 1664,43; 1695,53; 

1728, 66 ; 1814, 177. 
Milestones, 30, 31, 128. 
Minuit, Peter, 11, 12, 22. 
Montcalm, 69. 

Montgomery, General, 223, 224. 
Moore, Clement C, 212. 



Morse, S. F. B., 195 ; tablet, 196. 
Mount St. Vincent, 113. 

Negro plots, 64. 

Mew Amsterdam, captured by the 

English, 27 ; first view of, 27 ; 

description of, 38. 
New-Englanders, 18. 
New jail, 136. 
Newspapers, cheap, 192. 
Newspapers, early, 65 ; tablet, 76. 
New Year's day, 40, 153. 
New Y'ork adopts Constitution, 148. 
New York Directory, first, 158. 
New York during the civil war, 198. 
New York Historical Society, 76. 
New York, name changed to, 44. 
New York, name .suggests York, 

England, 49. 
New York, in 1C42, 35 ; in 1667, 45; 

captured by the Dutch, 46 ; in 

1750-'60, 71, 72 ; in 1790, 156 ; in 

War of 1812, 176. 
New York Society Lilirary, 139. 
Nicolls, Captain, 26, 44. 
Night watch, 57. 
Non-importation agreement, 81 ; 

tablet, 82. 
North Kiver, 10. 

Old mansion, State Street, view of, 

236. 
Osborne, 69. 

Paas, 41. 

Paine, Thomas, 97. 

Parade to aid adoption of the Con- 
stitution, 147. 

Parks, 219. 

Patroons, 22. 

Pirates, 59. 

Pitt, William, 89 ; inscription, 90, 
102. 



284 A LANDMARK HISTORY OF NEW YORK 



Point of Kocks, 124 ; view of, 125. 
Population, 1G95, 52 ; character of, 

1765, 80. 
Postal service begun, 44. 
Postman, the first, 29. 
Post office, old, tablet, 100; 101. 
Printing, 56 ; tablets, 76, 77. 
Prisoners, 135, 230, 231. 
Prison ships, 137. 

Prison-ship martyrs, burial of, 156. 
Protestant Theological Seminary 

211 ; view of, 213. 
Public-school system, 173. 
Putnam, General, 106, 111. 

Eailroad, New York to San Fran- 
cisco, 198. 
Eaymond, Henry J., 194. 
Keligious persecution, 64. 
Kevolution, end of the, 140. 
Kichmond Hill, 107, 113, 214. 
Riots, 202-205. 

St. John's Church, 220. 

St. Mark's Church, 27. 

St. Nicholas day, 41. 

St. Paul's inauguration ceremonies, 

152 ; view of, 188, 221. 
Schools, 17 ; view of old school, 

173 ; view of modern school, 174. 
Seal, 47. 
Seventh Kegiment, departure of, 

199 ; tablet, 200. 
Slavery, 63. 
Sloughler, Henry, 50. 
Smuggling, 62. 
Sons of Liberty, 78 ; tablets, 87, 88, 

91. 
Sons of the Kevolution, 87. 
Stamp Act, 73, 80, 84. 
Statue of George III, destruction of, 

98 ; view of, 99. 
Statue of Liberty, 237, 238. 



Statue of Pitt, mutilated, 98. 

Steamboat, first, 165 ; view of, 166. 

Street Commission, 1807, 176. 

Sti-eet lighting, 57. 

Stuy vesant, Peter, town house, 15 ; 
character, 16; last director-gen- 
eral, 23 ; portrait, 24 ; country 
house, 26 ; tomb, 27 ; inscription 
on tomb, 29 ; pear ti'ee, 31, 33. 

Sugar-house prison, 136, 251. 

Sullivan, General, 106. 

Sun, The New York, 51, 193. 

Tablets : Dutch Period.— First City 
Hall, 16 ; first habitations, 9 ; Fort 
Amsterdam, 11 ; Stuyvesant pear 
tree, 32 ; Stuyvesant's tomb, 29. 

Early English Period. — First 
newspaper, 76 ; first printing- 
press, 77. 

Pre- Revolutionary Period. — 
Golden Hill, battle of, 87 ; Lib- 
erty-pole conflicts, 88 ; nou-im- 
portation agreement, 82 ; Willett's 
patriotic act, 93. 

Revolutionary Period. — Dec- 
laration of Independence, reading 
of, 97 ; Fraunces's tavern, 241 ; 
Harlem Heights, battle of, 120 ; 
Jumel Mansion (Washington's 
headquarters), 133 ; Kennedy 
House (reference to destruction 
of King George's statue), 98 ; 
Knowlton and Leitch, 128 ; meet- 
ing of Washington and Putnam, 
112 ; Middle Dutch Church (used 
as a Revolutionary prison), 100 ; 
Revolutionary soldiers and sail- 
ors (Dutch Collegiate Church), 
231 ; Washington's arrival in New 
York on his way to Boston to 
take command of the army, 
103. 



INDEX 



285 



Independence, Early Period.— 
Washington's first residence, 251. 
Modern Period. — Ericsson 
statue, 239 ; Are, 1885, 190 ; grad- 
uates of College of the City of 
New York lost in the civil war 
202; Gramercy Park, 218 ; Hudson 
Park, 217 ; Morse, 196 ; Seventh 
Kegiinent, site of organization, 
200 ; underground railway, 256 ; 
Washington, centennial anniver- 
sary of death of, 222 ; Washington, 
centennial anniversary of inaugu- 
ration of, 221. 

Tammany Society, 154 

Tea Party, New York, 90. 

Telegraph, invention of the, 195. 

Theater in Nassau Street, 72. 

Times, The New York, 19-4. 

Tribune, The New York, 194. 

Trinity, 8, 56, 72, 225, 226, 228. 

Trinity Cemetery, One Hundred 
and Fifty-third Street, 128. 

Tryon, William, 103. 

Van Cortlandt family, 19. 
Vanderbilt, Cornelius, 167. 
Van Kensselaer, Killian, 23. 
Van Twiller, Wouter, 23. 
Verrazano, John, 4. 



Wall and water gate, illustrated, 18. 

Wall Street in 1789, 151. 

Wampum, 38. 

Washington Arch, 248. 

Washington, Declaration of Inde- 
pendence read in presence of, 97 ; 
arrival in New York, 103 ; head- 
quarters, Eichmond Hill, 107 ; at 
Kip's Bay, 110 ; meets Putnam, 
111 ; battle of Harlem Heights, 
120 ; headquarters in Jumel Man- 
sion, 133 ; farewell to his officers, 
Frauuces's Tavern, 144 ; chosen 
President, 148 ; arrival in New 
York, 148 ; house in Cherry 
Street, 149 ; inauguration, 150 ; 
grand reception, 154 ; moves to 
39 Broadway, 154 ; birthday, 154 ; 
first President of Society of the 
Cincinnati, 103 ; farewell to his 
officers, 241 ; centennial anniver- 
sary of inauguration of, 221 ; cen- 
tennial anniversary of death of, 
222 ; statues of, 243, 245 ; view of 
Cherry Street residence, 251. 

Willett, Marinus, tablet, 93 ; patri- 
otic act, 94. 

William and Mary, 50. 

Wolfe, 70 ; statue of, 233. 

Zenger, John Peter, 65. 



THE END 



3? 






.p 



